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. Ferguson complained of De Gea being subjected to over-physical 'abuse' by West Brom's players, a statement eerily similar to his response to Peter Schmeichel being tormented by Wimbledon's aerial bombardment in 1991. Ferguson said of the Dane at the time: "Any goalkeeper would be under pressure from their kind of physical attack. This is all new to him, having to collect so many crosses and high balls, but we knew that would be the case when we bought him." Schmeichel was a much more imposing, and experienced, figure than De Gea, but 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."
Ferguson's decision to pursue De Gea last season ahead of the likes of Germany's Manuel Neuer and Liverpool's Pepe Reina, who both came under consideration, was due to his belief that Petr Cech's success at Chelsea had dispelled the theory that young goalkeepers are not suited to the demands of the Premier League. 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.
Eric Steele, United's goalkeeping coach, scouted De Gea for more than 18 months and said that he will be given time to adjust. "Did you see Edwin when he was 20?" Steele said. "There's work to be done, but no player is completely finished at 20.''
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.
Add a hair cut to that and we're all set!!