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(Image: John Peters)

Manchester United keeper David de Gea says he is no longer an easy target for the Premier League’s bully-boys, writes David McDonnell in Sydney.

De Gea endured a tough start to his United career, a series of high-profile gaffes suggesting he was not cut out for the job of No.1.

But De Gea bulked up, thanks to a special diet and punishing weights sessions, to give him the physique to cope with the combative nature of the Premier League.

And the Spaniard, 22, said he now had the experience, confidence and physical presence to maintain his status as the champions’ No.1 and not get roughed up.

“I knew I had to become bigger physically,” said De Gea.”You can see I look different to when I first came here and I have much more muscle.

“I’ve worked hard in the gym - lifting heavy weights and doing a lot of exercises.

“It was a very intense regime. I changed my diet as well and now eat an awful lot more than I used to, to build myself up for the physical challenges of the English game.

“In training, the players would deliberately hit high balls into me and barge into me so I’d get used to that side of the English game.

“I actually enjoy the physical side of it now.”

De Gea was dropped by Sir Alex Ferguson after one blunder too many cost United a 3-2 home defeat to Blackburn on New Year’s Eve 2011.

Anders Lindegaard came in for the Spaniard, who looked to have lost his No.1 status until an injury to his replacement saw him reclaim his place.

But De Gea flourished on his return to the side after his enforced spell on the bench - his heroics last season earning him a place in the PFA Team of the Year.

United’s 20th title triumph owed as much to De Gea’s exploits between the post as it did to Robin van Persie’s 30-goal heroics in his debut season.

And De Gea admitted former United boss Ferguson’s decision to drop him was the wake-up call he needed for him to finally realise his potential.

“I know there was a stage when I was dropped to the bench, but that was good for me,” said De Gea. “It made me stronger and better.

“Also, the trust that Sir Alex put in me gave me a lot of confidence. He was like that with me from the very start.

(Image: Reuters)

“Eric Steele was a great goalkeeping coach who always looked after me and I will remember that.

“Now I have a new coach, in Chris Woods, and I’m enjoying learning different things with him. I’ve improved over the last year and that’s down to the hard work I have done with all the coaches.

“It was hard at the beginning because I’d come from a different league and didn’t know what to expect in this league and with this type of football.

“I don’t think people appreciated just how hard it was for me coming to a new country at 19, as well as a different type of football.

“My immediate family came over with me from the start, but I missed my friends back home. Everything is now better and I’m very happy in Manchester.”

Real Madrid and Spain No.1 Iker Casillas has claimed De Gea can go on to become the best keeper in the world - a standing the youngster is keen to achieve.

“It’s great that a goalkeeper as good as Iker has said that I could be the best of them all,” said De Gea.

“It’s very humbling but, yes, it’s possible. Those words motivate me to reach that goal. When Edwin van der Sar said he was leaving Manchester United I wanted to be the man to replace him.

“I was given that chance and I’m not going to let it go. I would love if one day the fans speak of me in the same way they speak of Edwin and Peter Schmeichel. That would mean all the hard work has paid off.”