David De Gea hits the gym to become Manchester United star

DAVID De Gea has revealed his transformation from expensive flop to potential United player of the year has taken place in the Carrington weight room.

And now he's trying to improve his English so he can understand the jokes flying around the Old Trafford dressing room.

De Gea endured a tough start to his career in England following his 18m move from Atletico Madrid. He was caught out by Edin Dzeko's long-range strike against City in the Community Shield and looked nervous on his Premier League debut at West Brom.

The criticism reached its height after mistakes in the defeat to Blackburn in December and against Liverpool in the FA Cup a month later.

But since then, the 21-year-old has played a key role in the United team which has overhauled City at the top of the Premier League. His clean sheet in the 4-0 win over Aston Villa was his fifth in his last six games.

The Spain Under-21 international puts the turnaround down to his work in the gym, although he admits there are other areas of self-improvement he's still working on.

People are aware I have been trying to gain a little bit of weight in terms of muscle, said De Gea. Maybe an odd kilo to bulk up a little bit.

But football-wise, there are not too many differences. The concentration levels are certainly the same, you can't let them drop for an instant. I am trying to pick up as much English as I can so I can take part in the dressing room banter.

De Gea also revealed that he was warned off a move to England when he was first touted as Edwin van der Sar's successor. It's advice he's thankful he ignored.

Before I came, people back home were saying the weather in England is terrible and the food is not much better, he said.

But I ! am quite a happy, easy-going kind of guy who likes to have a joke around and, to be totally honest, I like the food. The weather has not been so bad either.

His form has been so good in the second half of the season, De Gea is being talked about as a potential winner of the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year, the award for United fans' player of the season.

De Gea, however, is more concerned with getting his gloves on a bigger prize the Premier League trophy.

It is nice to know supporters are voting for me, said De Gea.

It is always a positive when the fans are behind you. It is something I can sense when I am on the field and makes me feel more relaxed. It is a source of extra motivation when you know the fans are right behind you and rooting for you.

But all that aside, it is just a case of getting your head down, keep working hard and making sure you do have a continuous improvement all the time.

Now we are in front and we have to try and stay there because it would be a dream come true to win the league in my first season.

Who do you think is United's player of the year? Have your say

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