ANDERS LINDEGAARD

Lindegaard joined Manchester United on a three-and-a-half year contract for an undisclosed fee in November 2010, with a view to potentially taking over from retiring goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar at the end of that season. The arrival of David De Gea threw a spannner in the works, though, and Lindegaard has been battling the Spaniard for the No. 1 jersey since.

A virtual unknown when he joined United, Lindegaard began his career at Danish side Odense Boldklub. He moved out on loan twice during his time with the club but, ironically, the arrival of former Manchester United custodian Roy Carroll in 2009 forced him to move on permanently and he joined Aalesund. Making an immediate impact, he won the Norwegian Cup and also picked up the Goalkeeper of the Year award, before sealing his big move to Old Trafford.

Upon joining United, the inevitable comparisons to the legendary Peter Schmeichel appeared, but the former United captain was blunt in his response when asked whether Lindegaard was good enough to claim the No. 1 spot: ”No. We are talking about Manchester United here,” he said.

After finding himself behind De Gea in the United pecking order in 2011-12, Lindegaard became Sir Alex Ferguson’s first-choice keeper in January 2012 and cemented his place with a series of consistent displays. However, later that month he suffered an ankle ligament injury in training and was ruled out for the rest of the season, allowing De Gea to reclaim the No. 1 jersey.

Strengths: Tall and commanding, both in a physical and communicative sense, he also boasts excellent reflexes and distribution.

Weaknesses: Not very experienced for an international, should perhaps have played more games in his career by now.

Career high: 2010 was a great year for Lindegaard as he sealed a move to Manchester United and was named Goalkeeper of the Year in Norway and his native Denmark.

Career low: Missing out on the Denmark’s 2010 World Cup squad.

Style: Brave, strong, commanding, a big presence in goal.

Quotes: “I want to be the best. I want to be first choice. I am not here because I want to be on the bench.” Lindegaard tells the Manchester Evening News of his intentions in January 2011.

Trivia: Lindegaard kept clean sheets in each of his first five Premier League games for Manchester United, with that record ending with a 3-0 defeat to Newcastle in January 2012.