MANCHESTER UNITED rookie Chris Smalling insists he is continuing to prosper at Old Trafford.
The 21-year-old central defender, who learned his trade at non-league Maidstone, has been given a run of games in the absence of Rio Ferdinand with a calf injury.
Smalling is expected to partner Nemanja Vidic tonight when they take on Marseille with a place in the quarterfinals of the Champions League at stake after a 0-0 draw in the first leg.
He reckons United will approach the match with optimism after dumping Arsenal out the FA Cup on Saturday.
Smalling, set for his seventh appearance in Europe's elite club competition, said: 'My confidence is getting better with each game.
'In the last couple of months I have played some big games against top opposition. I hope I can step in and keep going.
'It was a difficult week and we didn't get the rub of the green against Chelsea and Liverpool but progressing in the FA Cup means we are going into this match with a lot of confidence.'
