De Gea urged to prove his worth

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

De Gea has struggled to fill the boots of Van der Sar since the Dutchman retired at the end of last season, making a number of high-profile blunders that saw him dropped from the side. The £18million man was recalled for Sunday's game at Chelsea, producing a Jekyll-and-Hyde display that saw him flap at more than one cross but also make a stunning late save.

Van der Sar said: "It's always difficult if you're coming into a new club and new league, especially the English one. It's a very demanding one, can be a very tough one. He has to deal with that. They paid a lot of money for him and he has to come through that."

De Gea had lost his place to Anders Lindegaard, who impressed in goal before picking up an injury that has ruled him out for a month.

Van der Sar said: "I spoke to Anders and he's disappointed of course, that he's injured at the moment because he's really been magnificent."

Sir Alex Ferguson could have been forgiven for sending out an SOS to Van der Sar, who admitted he was missing the game. But Van der Sar insisted he was not about to follow in the footsteps of Paul Scholes, who came out of retirement last month.

"I got a few text messages from friends saying, 'What about you?'," Van der Sar said. "I'm quite happy at the moment. There's no doubt in my mind."

Van der Sar, 41, was not surprised at Scholes' u-turn, having spoken to the midfielder last year.

He said: "I was at Carrington and he was watching a training session and I said, 'So, how do you like it?'.

"He said, 'Not really. I miss it'. He was still there doing his work as an assistant coach with the reserve team so it was probably a little bit easier to get back in."