Smalling initially struggled to impose himself at United, but has now
established himself as a first-choice centre-back, while Shaw is
flourishing after an injury-scarred first season at Old Trafford.
Wayne Rooney stole the headlines in Tuesday's 2-0 win over Switzerland
by scoring his 50th England goal, but Smalling was named man of the
match and Shaw impressed with some buccaneering forays from left-back.
Hodgson joked that he had signed Smalling for "a bag of balls" during
his time as Fulham manager, but added: "I'm delighted for him because
he's a player who has really had to fight to get to the position that
he's achieved at Manchester United today.
"I also congratulate the people who chose the man of the match. It would
have been so easy to give the award to Wayne for his 50th goal or to
Harry Kane coming on (and scoring), Luke Shaw for bombing up the left
wing.
"We can thank Chris Smalling and his partner Gary Cahill and we owe them
a debt that we won 2-0 because sometimes what was going on in front of
them wasn't what we really wanted to see."
Shaw, 20, had his fitness publicly questioned by United manager Louis
van Gaal after signing from Southampton in a £30 million ($46.1 million,
41.3 million euros) deal last year and made only 16 Premier League
appearances last season.
But having taken one of United's fitness coaches with him on holiday
this year, he has made an encouraging start to the new season.
With Everton's Leighton Baines currently injured, there is an opening at
left-back in the England team and Hodgson believes Shaw has the ability
to make the position his own.
"That tough season, and it must have been tough for him and his family,
might benefit him because he's still only 20," Hodgson told a group of
reporters at Wembley.
"He must have played 10 games for England already (actually six) and if
he keeps going then he's on track to be another Ashley Cole, a 100-cap
man.
"I would advise him to study Ashley Cole, look at what Ashley did for England and set my sights on the same thing."
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