Football
Richard Jolly, ESPN.com writer 8y

Chris Smalling: Jamie Vardy success will encourage non-league search

Manchester United defender Chris Smalling believes the success of Leicester striker Jamie Vardy will encourage Premier League clubs to look for players at non-league level more often.

Former Stocksbridge Park Steels striker Vardy, who did not make his Football League debut until the age of 25, broke Ruud van Nistelrooy's record by scoring in an 11th consecutive Premier League game in the 1-1 draw with United on Saturday.

Smalling also began in non-league football, playing for Maidstone before moving to Fulham and then to Old Trafford in 2010.

The England international told reporters: "With Jamie's success, I think you will see clubs having a little bit more of a look in non-league for players.

"If you can find some sort of hidden gems in local or non-league football, I think it would be a no-brainer to give them a chance."

After several years of being in and out of the United team, Smalling has become Louis van Gaal's first-choice centre-back.

He added: "It's one job getting here [into the first team] but it's 10 times harder making sure you stay here.

"There is so much competition and this club is always seeking the best players, so I think you have got that drive to make sure that you deserve your place in the team.

"If you do have a bad game, then you can look back and see how far you have come. For example, we didn't have changing rooms in non-league football like the ones we see nowadays. Sometimes I'd be better off getting changed in my car."

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