De Gea hopes Spain clean sheet will see him back in Utd frame

Spain and Manchester United goalkeeper De Gea hopes that his performance with the Spanish national side on Tuesday night will help smooth the waters of what has been a troubled month with his club.

De Gea watched Manchester United's first six competitive games of the season from the stands as coach Louis Van Gaal considered the transfer saga of his move to Real Madrid was affecting his form.

That move fell through at the last minute as Real Madrid failed to process the necessary paperwork in time and De Gea now returns to Manchester with question marks hanging over him.

His replacement in the Manchester United goal, Sergio Romero, was at fault for the goal which cost United defeat away to Swansea in their last game before the international break and speculation is now rife that Van Gaal will once again turn to De Gea for this Saturday's match, which is at home to bitter rivals, Liverpool.

"I felt good. I was longing to get back to playing again," said De Gea, who kept a clean sheet as Spain defeated Macedonia 1-0.

"Now I have to keep on working and see if I can have some luck with my club," he said.

De Gea thanked his teammates for the support they had given him, but was unwilling to reveal what the future held for him, admit speculation that he could now sign a contract extension with Manchester United.

"My future is going to be the same as it is now. I am calm about things and I will keep on working and trying to improve. I have enjoyed my football and I am happy," concluded the goalkeeper.

Now everyone will wait until Saturday to see whether his name or Romero's is on the team-sheet. Endi