Manchester United playmaker Juan Mata is confident that goalkeeper David de Gea will be a big player for the club this season.
De Gea is yet to feature for the Red Devils so far this season, having been expected to leave Old Trafford to join Real Madrid.
However, with that big-money switch having collapsed on deadline day, Spain international Mata now expects his club and country team-mate to return to the fold with United, having kept a clean sheet for his country as they won 1-0 in a Euro 2016 qualifier in FYR Macedonia.
Mata told Marca: “De Gea is very well regarded at the club and by the coach. I believe everything will continue to be the same.
“From what I perceive, I don’t think there is going to be any issue upon his return, neither from the club, the coach nor the fans.
“In the past two years David has been the best player in the team due to the saves he made and the many points those saves gave us. I have no doubt that this year is also going to be very good for him.”
In the absence of De Gea, summer signing Sergio Romero has been first-choice for United in the opening games of the new season and the Argentina international has kept four clean sheets in six appearances.
However, he was felt to be at fault for the Swansea winner in a 2-1 defeat at the Liberty Stadium before the international break and manager Louis van Gaal could be tempted to throw De Gea straight back in.
