The heavy cold which kept the 22-year-old out of the Boxing Day win against Wigan Athletic is feared to be worse than expected, according to the Daily Mail.
Smalling moved to Old Trafford from Fulham in summer 2010 for around £10m.
Rio Ferdinand and Phil Jones are both expected to return to action for Saturday's match at home to Blackburn Rovers following minor knocks.
Restore Data
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS | |
| 1 | Arsenal | 34 | 24 | 5 | 5 | 82 | 26 | 56 | 77 |
| 2 | Liverpool | 33 | 22 | 8 | 3 | 75 | 32 | 43 | 74 |
| 3 | Manchester CityMan City | 32 | 22 | 7 | 3 | 76 | 32 | 44 | 73 |
| 4 | Aston Villa | 34 | 20 | 6 | 8 | 71 | 50 | 21 | 66 |
| 5 | Tottenham HotspurSpurs | 32 | 18 | 6 | 8 | 65 | 49 | 16 | 60 |
| 6 | Newcastle UnitedNewcastle | 32 | 15 | 5 | 12 | 69 | 52 | 17 | 50 |
| 7 | Manchester UnitedMan Utd | 32 | 15 | 5 | 12 | 47 | 48 | -1 | 50 |
| 8 | West Ham UnitedWest Ham | 34 | 13 | 9 | 12 | 54 | 63 | -9 | 48 |
| 9 | Chelsea | 32 | 13 | 8 | 11 | 61 | 57 | 4 | 47 |
| 10 | Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton | 32 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 52 | 50 | 2 | 44 |
| 11 | Wolverhampton WanderersWolves | 33 | 12 | 7 | 14 | 46 | 53 | -7 | 43 |
| 12 | Fulham | 34 | 12 | 6 | 16 | 50 | 54 | -4 | 42 |
| 13 | Bournemouth | 33 | 11 | 9 | 13 | 48 | 60 | -12 | 42 |
| 14 | Crystal Palace | 33 | 9 | 9 | 15 | 42 | 56 | -14 | 36 |
| 15 | Brentford | 34 | 9 | 8 | 17 | 52 | 59 | -7 | 35 |
| 16 | Everton | 33 | 10 | 8 | 15 | 34 | 48 | -14 | 30 |
| 17 | Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest | 34 | 7 | 9 | 18 | 42 | 60 | -18 | 26 |
| 18 | Luton TownLuton | 34 | 6 | 7 | 21 | 47 | 75 | -28 | 25 |
| 19 | Burnley | 34 | 5 | 8 | 21 | 37 | 69 | -32 | 23 |
| 20 | Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd | 33 | 3 | 7 | 23 | 31 | 88 | -57 | 16 |
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