Fergie expects De Gea protection

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson expects goalkeeper David De Gea to receive more protection from officials at Old Trafford.

United's big-money signing from Atletico Madrid has blundered in each of his opening two games for the club, but is set to make his home debut against Tottenham on Monday.

And after making his errors at Wembley and the Hawthorns respectively, Ferguson expects an easier ride for the Spaniard when his side return to their home ground.

"He coped with the crosses into the box at West Brom with no problem - he just didn't get any protection," Ferguson claimed.

"You saw the challenges - an elbow in the face and a boy went under him and he didn't get the free-kick.

"It's just away from home where he might get subjected to that.""It's disappointing when you don't get the protection, but he's at home against Spurs on Monday and it won't be a problem.

Regime

Ferguson suggests lightweight De Gea will undergo a training regime to deal with the physical demands of the Premier League, as every foreign arrival does at Old Trafford.

"David will go through the same programme of core work as the rest of the players do when they come here," added Ferguson.

"(Edwin) Van der Sar was a tall, skinny kid when he won the European Cup (with Ajax) in 1995. He was the same - and don't forget David is only 20.

"He's fine, he's done his training - there's no problem.""But I have no problems with him, none at all. We have never mentioned the criticism this week that David got after the West Brom game.

Ferguson has reason to be unconcerned, with even legendary goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel having first struggled with the demands upon his arrival in 1991.

"Schmeichel had a baptism of fire, too," added Ferguson. "He went to Wimbledon in his first couple of games with us and screamed like a pig.

"He got no protection. He had Vinnie Jones, Alan Cork and John Fashanu all piling on top of him and battering lumps out of him. David will be fine."