Lindegaard eager to regain starting place

Manchester United goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard says it is hard sitting on the bench with David de Gea establishing himself at Old Trafford.

The 28-year-old had enjoyed sharing starting duties with the Spaniard last year before being injured.

With just one appearance since December, the Dane is becoming increasingly anxious about his chances under Sir Alex Ferguson, especially after de Gea reiterated his desire to remain at the club despite reported interest from Barcelona.

“For me at the moment it’s not easy deal being on the bench when the team is performing as well as we do,” Lindegaard told reporters.

“And, of course, when David is also performing as well as he does and has been doing in the last couple of months.

“Of course, everybody wants to play and I’m not different from anyone else. I’m sure all the players who are not in the starting line-up every game would say the same and they want to play.

“That’s how football players are. It’s a genetic thing in us – we live for the thrill of playing and the adrenaline you get when you step out on the pitch.

“With my best spell in my time at United so far I was on a good run. I performed, the team performed, the club performed … and then I ran into an unlikely injury.

“But that’s how life is as a footballer – sometimes you get injured.”

United sit top of the English Premier League with a 15-point lead over closest rivals Manchester City, with their dominance casting a shadow over Lindegaard’s form of last season.

The Dane has managed 11 clean sheets in his time at Old Trafford, and is pleased to see his team-mates performing so well.

“I always say that clean sheets for a goalkeeper are like what goals are for a striker – it builds up your confidence,” Lindegaard said.

“It’s already been a long season and, with a little bit of thinking back, you remember the times when people were thinking that United were leaking goals on another level.

“But we’ve done the best the club has ever done at this stage of the season. I think it paints a pretty good picture.

“I do think it is very difficult for Manchester United to exceed what is expected of us – we’re expected to win every tournament we participate in, every game and not just to do it, but to do it in style.”