Wayne Rooney hails Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea strength
David de Gea Wayne Rooney feels Manchester United new boy David De Gea has the strength of character to succeed at Old Trafford.
Signed for 18million from Atletico Madrid by Sir Alex Ferguson in the summer, De Gea endured a difficult start.
He was defended by Ferguson, but blamed by many others, for Manchester City's two goals in this month's Community Shield at Wembley. And there was no doubt who was culpable for West Brom's leveller in the opening Barclays Premier League game at the Hawthorns seven days later.
Progress has been made since then though.
De Gea kept a clean sheet against Tottenham and although eyebrows were raised on Sunday by the Theo Walcott effort that went through his legs against Arsenal, the 20-year-old's penalty save to deny Robin van Persie earlier in the 8-2 triumph came at a far more important part of the game.
"He is still young and has probably got a lot to learn," said Rooney.
"But he is working hard and doing well in training.
"He is a strong character. After the Manchester City game, and then West Brom he didn't seem to be affected.
"He was on the training pitch the next day, working hard.
"The last couple of games he's done well for us and he will only get better the more he plays."
There are some attributes De Gea has which are impossible to ignore.
His distribution is excellent for a start, and Rooney rates the Spain Under-21 star's kicking on a par with that of Edwin van der Sar, high praise indeed given the veteran Dutchman was ranked as one of the very best in that department.
"David is obviously a good shot-stopper," said Rooney.
"I hadn't seen much of him before he signed but that was something I saw immediately.
"And his passing! out fro m the back is alongside Edwin's. He very rarely kicks long to a forward."
What is your early assessment of De Gea? Have your say.
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Signed for 18million from Atletico Madrid by Sir Alex Ferguson in the summer, De Gea endured a difficult start.
He was defended by Ferguson, but blamed by many others, for Manchester City's two goals in this month's Community Shield at Wembley. And there was no doubt who was culpable for West Brom's leveller in the opening Barclays Premier League game at the Hawthorns seven days later.
Progress has been made since then though.
De Gea kept a clean sheet against Tottenham and although eyebrows were raised on Sunday by the Theo Walcott effort that went through his legs against Arsenal, the 20-year-old's penalty save to deny Robin van Persie earlier in the 8-2 triumph came at a far more important part of the game.
"He is still young and has probably got a lot to learn," said Rooney.
"But he is working hard and doing well in training.
"He is a strong character. After the Manchester City game, and then West Brom he didn't seem to be affected.
"He was on the training pitch the next day, working hard.
"The last couple of games he's done well for us and he will only get better the more he plays."
There are some attributes De Gea has which are impossible to ignore.
His distribution is excellent for a start, and Rooney rates the Spain Under-21 star's kicking on a par with that of Edwin van der Sar, high praise indeed given the veteran Dutchman was ranked as one of the very best in that department.
"David is obviously a good shot-stopper," said Rooney.
"I hadn't seen much of him before he signed but that was something I saw immediately.
"And his passing! out fro m the back is alongside Edwin's. He very rarely kicks long to a forward."
What is your early assessment of De Gea? Have your say.
Tweet
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