De Gea to start as number one, says Ferguson

Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed David de Gea will start the season as his first-choice goalkeeper for Manchester United.

The English Premier League champions are faced with the challenge of replacing the retired Edwin Van der Sar in the United goal for the coming season, but Ferguson is pleased with the options available to him.

And it appears 20-year-old Spain international de Gea has the inside running, fresh from joining the club from Atletico Madrid in June.

“Obviously we have signed David de Gea as the main choice, I would imagine,” he told Sky Sports News.

“But Anders Lindegaard and Ben Amos have probably said to themselves they have an opportunity with Van der Sar retiring.”

“It is an open door for me.”

“De Gea will play on Saturday against Chicago but they will all get their fair share of games and the decision on who starts the season will depend on how De Gea settles.”

The United boss also expressed his delight with Wayne Rooney after the England man scored a hat-trick in the 7-0 pre-season victory over Seattle Sounders.

“It is nice he scored,” Ferguson.

“We are pleased for all the goalscorers but three goals is a nice start for him. He has worked hard. He has done really well in training.”

Michael Owen, Mame Biram Diouf, Park Ji-Sung and Gabriel Obertan also found the net for the Red Devils and Ferguson wants to see more of the same in the coming campaign.

“Last year we depended on three players for our goals, so that was good (to have a spread of scorers),” he said.