Manchester United stars celebrate win over Watford with night out for Chris Smalling's birthday, as England defender is joined by model girlfriend Sam Cooke and team-mates

  • England international joined by friends and team-mates at luxury restaurant for his 26th birthday
  • Models Same Cooke and Rhian Sugden were with the Premier League players, as was tennis star Ana Ivanovic
  • Goalscorer Memphis Depay, World Cup winner Bastian Schweinsteiger and other United stars all attended
  • England captain Wayne Rooney was not there after missing Saturday's Watford clash through illness 

After leaving it until stoppage time to beat Watford, Manchester United's stars were enjoying themselves late on again on Saturday night, as they celebrated Chris Smalling's birthday along with a number of famous friends, including the England defender's girlfriend Sam Cooke.

Ashley Young, Morgan Schneiderlin and Jesse Lingard, all of whom started in the Barclays Premier League win earlier in the day, were out to party with their team-mate, while goalscorer Memphis Depay continued his celebrations on a day when he scored for the first time since September.

Bastian Schweinsteiger, who saw his last-gasp shot deflected into his own net by Troy Deeney for the winner at Vicarage Road, was also in attendance, alongside his girlfriend tennis star Ana Ivanovic at Avalanche restaurant in central Manchester.

Manchester United defender Chris Smalling
Smalling's girlfriend Sam Cooke

Manchester United defender Chris Smalling was out in the city centre to celebrate his birthday, alongside girlfriend Sam Cooke

United defenders Paddy McNair (left) and Luke Shaw were at the party, despite the latter being out for several months with a broken leg

United defenders Paddy McNair (left) and Luke Shaw were at the party, despite the latter being out for several months with a broken leg

Daley Blind arrives at the party
Memphis Depay shows off his interesting fashion choices

Dutch stars Daley Blind (left) and Memphis Depay were out to celebrate their team-mate's birthday, with interesting fashion choices

James Wilson arrives with girlfriend Frankie Barwell
Bastian Schweinsteiger came with his tennis-star girlfriend Ana Ivanovic

James Wilson arrives with girlfriend Frankie Barwell, while Bastian Schweinsteiger came with his tennis star girlfriend Ana Ivanovic

Morgan Schneiderlin and his girlfriend brought Smalling a present
Ashley Young arrived with his wife at the luxury restaurant

Morgan Schneiderlin and his girlfriend brought Smalling a present (left), while Ashley Young was joined by his wife at the luxury restaurant

Daley Blind, Paddy McNair, and injured English international Luke Shaw were also among the guests, but England captain Wayne Rooney, who missed the trip to Watford because of illness, and French striker Anthony Martial, who is out injured, were both absent from their team-mate's celebration 

Phil Jones, who went off injured against Watford, was able to attend despite the ankle problem, an encouraging sign for United who have fitness problems beginning to mount.

James Wilson may not be able to get onto the United bench even with their two senior strikers injured, but he did receive an invite to Smalling's party, where he was seen arriving with girlfriend Frankie Barwell.

And there was also a return to Manchester for Smalling's former central defensive partner Jonny Evans, fresh from being a part of the West Bromwich Albion team that beat Arsenal, helping to keep United ahead of the Gunners.  

The Premier League stars were surrounded by a troupe of buxom women as he marked his 26th, including model Rhian Sugden and Smalling's girlfriend Cooke, at the luxury restaurant, which boasts that it provides private functions with 'class, elegance and style'.

Young star Jesse Lingard arrives at the party
Jonny Evans returned to Manchester alongside former team-mate Phil Jones

Young star Jesse Lingard arrives at the party, while West Brom's Jonny Evans returned to Manchester alongside former team-mate Phil Jones

Cooke cut a  classy figure in a floor-length lace dress which covered a form-fitting corset at her boyfriend's party

Cooke cut a classy figure in a floor-length lace dress which covered a form-fitting corset at her boyfriend's party

Model Rhian Sugden left little to the imagination when she partied in Manchester for Smalling's birthday celebrations on Saturday

Model Rhian Sugden left little to the imagination when she partied in Manchester for Smalling's birthday celebrations on Saturday

Sugden trying to avoid a wardrobe malfunction
The blonde model was keen to ensure she didn't 'do a Lizzie Cundy'

The blonde model was keen to ensure she didn't 'do a Lizzie Cundy' with a wardrobe malfunction on the cards outside the restaurant

Smalling, who turned 26 on Sunday, arrived in a black suit, while his team-mates were a little more experimental with their fashion choices. Depay was dressed in a camouflage shirt with ripped jeans and a fur-lined coat, while Blind topped off his outfit with a backwards cap.

The birthday boy has been in fine form this season, winning plaudits for his performances at the heart of the defence for both club and country, as he begins to display the sort of form the club hoped to see when they splashed out £10million to sign him from Fulham five years ago.

There was even more reason to celebrate for the United stars as Saturday's win means that they are now second in the Premier League, after Manchester City also slipped up against Liverpool, only behind in-form Leicester, as Louis van Gaal chases his first trophy at the club.

Despite Smalling and his defence conceding for the first time in 641 minutes - over 10 hours of football - against Watford, United's stoppage-time winner made it three victories in a row, and came with an improved performance following criticism of their attacking play in recent weeks.  

More wives and girlfriends attended the party in Manchester's Avalanche Club
There seemed to be a huge amount of fake tan among the party-goers at the weekend

More wives and girlfriends attended the party in Manchester's Avalanche Club, which boasts 'class, elegance and style'

Smalling captained United to victory on Saturday afternoon in the absence of Wayne Rooney, who was too ill to play

Smalling captained United to victory on Saturday afternoon in the absence of Wayne Rooney, who was too ill to play

Schweinsteiger wheels away in celebration after his cross was turned into his own net by Watford striker Troy Deeney for the winner

Schweinsteiger wheels away in celebration after his cross was turned into his own net by Watford striker Troy Deeney for the winner

Depay met Ander Herrera's superb delivery to open the scoring for Manchester United at Vicarage Road, in a crucial win

Depay met Ander Herrera's superb delivery to open the scoring for Manchester United at Vicarage Road, in a crucial win

Depay's goal sparked the start of the celebrations, which continued as results went United's way throughout the day

Depay's goal sparked the start of the celebrations, which continued as results went United's way throughout the day

 

 

 

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