De Gea, an £18.3 million signing from Atletico Madrid,
was at fault for both of Manchester City's goals in
Manchester
United's
Community Shield victory at Wembley and conceded another soft goal
during Sunday's 2-1
Premier
League win at West
Bromwich.
De Gea's fallibility when dealing with crosses and high balls
into the six-yard box was also evident at The Hawthorns, but United
manager Ferguson is understood to have no plans to drop the
youngster in favour of Danish understudy Anders Lindegaard for
Monday's clash with Tottenham at Old Trafford.
But while Ferguson believes De Gea's mistakes so far stem from
positional issues which can be eradicated quickly, the Scot is
aware of the need for De Gea, 20, to improve his physique in order
to avoid being outmuscled by opponents.
United have already mapped out a personalised training programme
to accelerate De Gea's physical development.
Under the guidance of senior fitness coach Tony Strudwick, De
Gea is expected to follow a similar programme to that laid down for
Mexican forward Hernandez last season.
Hernandez bulked up significantly and Patrice Evra and Cristiano
Ronaldo have also benefited from fast-track fitness regimes at Old
Trafford.
De Gea, who appears some way short of his alleged 6ft 4in frame,
will be given similar treatment, with special emphasis on his
diet.
During the club's pre-season tour of the United States,
Strudwick admitted the need to pay close attention to the
individual needs of players, particularly new arrivals such as De
Gea.
"The Premier League is not the same as La Liga," said Strudwick.
"What the modern player can expect now is personal attention. They
deserve that.
"The days of coming in at 9.30am, having a slice of toast, then
jogging onto the training pitch are gone."
Iker Casillas, the Spain and Real Madrid goalkeeper, has spoken
highly of his young rival, claiming that ''he will pension us all
off,'' but De Gea has shown signs of weakness that have already
been noted by his team-mates.
At The Hawthorns, both Phil Jones and Anderson were seen raising
their arms to the goalkeeper in order to highlight the need for De
Gea to be prepared to combat flailing arms, an issue which is
unlikely to go away when United travel to unforgiving opponents
such as Stoke City and Blackburn Rovers.
Off the pitch, De Gea is taking daily English lessons and has
flown his girlfriend, the Spanish pop star Edurne, over to be with
him in Manchester.
But with a trip to the Britannia Stadium looming on Sept 24, the
youngster will be expected to find his feet quickly if he is to
settle on the pitch as well as he is settling off it.
