Wayne Rooney backs David de Gea to succeed at Manchester United

• Rooney says De Gea will overcome early mistakes
• Goalkeeper joined United for £18m from Atlético Madrid


Wednesday 31 August 2011

Manchester United's David de Gea saves a penalty by Arsenal's Robin van Persie at Old Trafford. Photograph: Darren Staples/Reuters

Wayne Rooney has backed Manchester United's new goalkeeper David de Gea to overcome his early mistakes and be a success at Old Trafford.

De Gea, signed for £18m from Atlético Madrid by Sir Alex Ferguson in the summer, has endured a difficult start. He was defended by Ferguson, but blamed by many others, for Manchester City's two goals in the Community Shield at Wembley. And there was no doubt who was culpable for West Bromwich Albion's leveller at the Hawthorns seven days later.

Since then, though, De Gea kept a clean sheet against Tottenham Hotspur 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 thrashing 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.

"David is obviously a good shot-stopper. I hadn't seen much of him before he signed but that was something I saw immediately. And his passing out from the back is alongside Edwin's. He very rarely kicks long to a forward."