Man Utd goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard is relishing the fight for number one with David De Gea.
Defender says new additions are hungry for success
Manchester United goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard says he is ready to challenge for the number one spot with £18million signing David De Gea.
As Red Devils' centre-back Rio Ferdinand insists work needs to be done straight away to make sure the former Atletico Madrid youngster is settled in, 27-year-old Lindegaard believes he is already one step ahead having been at Old Trafford since January.
Like De Gea, Lindegaard believes he has what it takes to fit into Sir Alex Ferguson's first-team plans and replace newly-retired Edwin van der Sar.
"In terms of goalkeepers you can definitely see the red line in what the club is doing," said the Danish shot-stopper who is currently on tour in America with the squad.
"You can see the type of goalkeeper the club wants. They are aiming for the same kind of goalkeeper as Edwin van der Sar. Good with your feet, tall, agile.
"That is how De Gea is. That is how I play myself."
Huge step
Despite making the huge step up from little-known Norwegian side Aalesund to joining the Premier League champions, Lindegaard insists he is not just a bench-warmer.
"The manager has said he doesn't care what my name is, what my religion is or how I look," he said.
"He has pointed out if I am good enough, I will get my chance. That is how it is at Manchester United.
"We all start from scratch at the beginning of a new season."
He went on: "I was fortunate in getting to know the team last season.
"The first half-year was a learning process. I came from a very little team and into the biggest club in the world.
"Now I have to show I learned those lessons."
Impressed
Ferdinand has been impressed with Ferguson's additions to the squad, in particular 20-year-old De Gea, and insists the hard work must begin now in order to replace the huge void left by Van der Sar.
"It is not a problem having a new goalkeeper but it is something we have to address straight away," he told
Sky Sports.
"He is young. That is the good thing. This is what people are so excited about.
"Across the board, the manager has brought in young, hungry players who have not won anything.
"I came in like that. I know what it is like. Hopefully, those players will have the same attitude."
