Premier League preview: Manchester United v Tottenham

Anders Lindegaard looms as a likely starter when Manchester United’s take on Tottenham as Alex Ferguson continues to rotate his goalkeepers.

Lindegaard has played in the last three English Premier League matches, while young Spanish goalkeeper David De Gea was selected in Manchester United’s 2-1 win over Newcastle United in the League Cup on Wednesday, as well as the Champions League fixture against Galatasaray on September 20.

United manager Ferguson has made it clear he will continue to rotate his goalkeepers until one makes a clear case to be considered the undisputed number one at the club.

Lindegaard has conceded three goals in as many games, while De Gea has let in four goals in five matches, but the 28-year-old Dane, who is expected to return for the visit of Tottenham on Sunday, has claimed he is unfazed by Ferguson’s rotation policy.

“I don’t worry too much about roles,” Lindegaard said.

“I have taken the mickey out of everything and everyone by getting where I am now compared to where I’ve come from.”

Lindegaard joined United from Norwegian club Aalesunds in November 2010 and played 11 games last season, keeping seven clean-sheets, but has never been given an extended run as starting goalkeeper.

Manchester United are joint top-scorers in the Premier League after five rounds, having scored 12 goals, and sit second on the table but Ferguson’s team have also conceded six times, with critics claiming goalkeeper rotation is disrupting defensive cohesion.

But the problem has been throughout the defence, with Ferguson having yet to select the same back five players, including goalkeeper, in consecutive games since the start of the season.

Manchester United will take on eighth-placed Tottenham without injured defenders Nemanja Vidic, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling, while Antonio Valencia, who has filled in at right-back this season, is unlikely to play after injuring his foot in United’s 2-1 win over Liverpool last week.

Tottenham, who defeated Carlisle United 3-0 in the League Cup on Wednesday, will travel north to Manchester hoping to take advantage of United’s disjointed defence.

Jermain Defoe has been Tottenham’s main attacking weapon this season, with the diminutive striker having scored four of his team’s eight league goals.

Fullback Kyle Walker came off the bench against Carlisle and could be in line for a return to the starting line-up after recovering from an ankle complaint, while Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas may also have striker Emmanuel Adebayor (hamstring) available for selection.