Man Utd legend Neville: De Gea needs to improve - fast

Manchester United legend Gary Neville says David De Gea must adapt quickly to life as a Premier League goalkeeper.

He explained in his column in the Mail on Sunday: "Having left out new signing David de Gea for Anders Lindegaard on Wednesday, you would now expect Sir Alex Ferguson to stick with that decision on Sunday.

"De Gea is a player in whom United have great belief but he is young, just 21, a baby in goalkeeping terms.

"He's learning a new language, playing in a new league and adapting to a new culture.

"And being Manchester United goalkeeper is the hardest position of all.

"It's a big, lonely old pitch out there at Old Trafford when you've made a mistake.

"I've seen a succession of keepers come and go at United between the two greats of Peter Schmeichel and Edwin van der Sar and I've watched experienced, world-class goalkeepers fail to cope with the pressure of that position.

"But De Gea is still very young.

"Many players have struggled with the physicality of the Premier League in their first six months. Patrice Evra and Nemanja Vidic did and went on to become great United players.

"Thierry Henry and Robert Pires did at Arsenal and went on to become greats. De Gea improved greatly from a difficult start and he can do so again.

"He's in the right place for support, but he's going to have to learn fast now, as will a few United players."