Perhaps no summer signing has more pressure that 20-year-old Spanish goalie David de Gea. Field players can be moved slowly into the lineup or moved around the field, but a goalie is either in or out of the team.

The pressure has mounted as number of high-profile gaffes have observers wondering if de Gea has what it takes to play in the EPL, but United star Wayne Rooney has leapt to the defense of the $30 million replacement of the retired Edwin van der Sar.

"David is obviously a good shot-stopper," says Rooney. "I hadn ’t seen much of him before he signed, but that was something I saw immediately. Also his passing out from the back is alongside Edwin’s. He rarely kicks long to a forward. He is still young and has probably got a lot to learn, but he is working hard and doing well in training."

Rooney says de Gea wasn't affected by mistakes against Manchester City and West Bromwich.

"He was on the training pitch the next day, working hard," says the England star. "The last couple of games he’s done well for us and he will only get better the more he plays."