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Reports this week had suggested that the England international had been ruled out until the Christmas period, having suffered two breaks.
However, it is understood that United do not expect the 26-year-old to miss such a substantial portion of the season, leading to some confusion over his fitness.
Manager Jose Mourinho claimed, after a 3-1 victory over Swansea City, that he wanted his players to play through the pain barrier should they suffer an injury.
Having already told MUTV that Smalling “did not feel he could play without pain” Mourinho again went on the attack in the aftermath of the victory, telling reporters: “We have players with problems. To compete you have to go to the limit. It is cultural for some - and this is my culture. More than me, it is Man United.”
It has been widely suggested that Mourinho was taking aim at both Smalling and Luke Shaw, who was also absent from the win over Bob Bradley’s side.
Smalling has made seven Premier League appearances thus far this season, but has been injured for each of United’s last two matches, against the Swans and Burnley.
United, which is currently sit sixth in the Premier League table, faces a busy run after the international break with Arsenal, Feyenoord and West Ham twice – once in the Premier League and once in the EFL Cup – all upcoming prior to the end of November.
