Sir Alex Ferguson has backed under fire goalkeeper David De Gea to come good in the near future in spite of the mistakes that he keeps on making.

The 21 year old, bought in the summer from Spanish giants Atletico Madrid for a fee reported to be around £ 19 million, smashing the British transfer record fee for a goalkeeper has had a very patchy season with Manchester United, being brilliant at times and being absolutely rubbish sometimes as well.

But Fergie believes that the youngster has all the potential in the world to become a legend and has confirmed that he looks at him as his long term number one.

De Gea did not have the best of starts to his Manchester United career when he shipped in two silly goals against bitter rivals Manchester City in the FA Community Shield in August and his English Premier League debut against West Bromwich Albion was also marred by the goal that he conceded off a timid shot by Shane Long. However, David De Gea put in some stellar displays against Arsenal and Chelsea at home and stood tall like a rock against Liverpool at Anfield, saving United’s blushes on as many as three occasions.

His form began to fluctuate once again after Christmas when he conceded two extremely silly goals against Blackburn Rovers at home in a 3-2 loss and Fergie has, since then, decided to go for back up keeper Anders Lindegaard and it looks as if though the Dane is the favorite to finish the season as the club’s first choice goalkeeper.

However, both Ferguson and goalkeeping coach Eric Steele have stood beside David De Gea, shielding him from the media scrutiny and working with him in practice, hoping that the huge price tag of the youngster will be justified one day.