Manchester United keeper Edwin van der Sar has vowed to delay any decision over his future at Old Trafford until January at the earliest.

The giant Dutchman, about to enter the final year of his contract, is aware the spotlight will be on him after a series of below-par performances at the end of last season.

But, while van der Sar seems assured of his starting place for Sunday's Community Shield showdown with Chelsea and the Premier League opener against Reading seven days later, he expects it to be some time before he sits down with Sir Alex Ferguson and decides whether to extend his career beyond next summer.

"Last season was a long campaign but I had a long break and I feel good," he told United's official website.

"I am not thinking about what is going to happen. If I am still enjoying myself, then we will see but nothing will be decided before January."