England defender Chris Smalling is hopeful he and fellow team-mates can return to Manchester United from international duty and kick-on from where they left off.
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Smalling joins United compatriots Wayne Rooney, Tom Cleverley, Michael Carrick, Danny Welbeck and Ashley Young for the Three Lions' upcoming World Cup qualifiers against San Marino and Montenegro.
David de Gea (Spain), Patrice Evra (France), Javier Hernandez (Mexico), Antonio Valencia (Ecuador), Shinji Kagawa (Japan), Robin van Persie (Netherlands) and Jonny Evans (Northern Ireland) will also all be in action for their respective countries.
The Red Devils will resume their bid for a record 20th English league title after the break with a mammoth 15-point lead at the Premier League summit.
Smalling believes it is imperative the Old Trafford outfit lose none of their momentum, or have any players pick-up any injuries, once the top-flight campaign resumes.
"The 15-point lead looks good now," he told the club's official website. "But we go away to join up with our national teams and hopefully everyone can come back fit because we then have two big games against Sunderland and Chelsea.
"That could be a key edge in terms of how the league and cup goes. So that will be a big few days for us."
United's lead over rivals and defending champions Manchester City is significant, but Smalling insists if last season's disappointment, with City clinching the title on the final day, taught them anything it is that the hard work is never completed.
"It's a massive incentive for us to hold onto this lead," he said. "It's a bigger lead than last year but we can't rest on our laurels and we want to make sure we finish the job this season."
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