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Fergie considers dropping De Gea for Bolton test

David de Gea has had a controversial start to life at Old Trafford © PA Photos

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Bolton against Manchester United at the Reebok Stadium is one of the big games of this weekend - and you can catch all the action live on ESPN. Click here for details on how to subscribe.

Sir Alex Ferguson is considering dropping goalkeeper David de Gea for Saturday's Premier League clash against Bolton Wanderers, as he fears the Spaniard will be subjected to an aerial bombardment from Owen Coyle's side.

De Gea has been the victim of some early criticism about his ability despite being just a few games into his Old Trafford career, after showing questionable positioning and reflexes for Manchester City's goals in the season-opening Community Shield and going on to concede some sloppy goals in the Premier League so far - most notably Shane Long's weak drive for West Brom in United's 2-1 win at the Hawthorns.

That game was also notable for the number of physical challenges De Gea was subjected to by the Baggies players during the contest, as they attempted to unsettle him. Ferguson was unhappy with the referee in that game, but fears Bolton - and striker Kevin Davies in particular - will try similar tactics to gain an advantage on Saturday evening.

"I don't think he [De Gea] got the protection he should at West Brom but he dealt with that part very well," Ferguson said on Friday. "He made a mistake with the goal but, other than that, on every occasion they put the ball on top of him he dealt with it.

"As I said about [Peter] Schmeichel, he had the same experience and saw it through and it won't do [De Gea] any harm."

Despite his public comments, in private Ferguson is believed to be considering dropping the £18.3 million signing for the game in favour of his understudy, Anders Lindegaard. The Norwegian is a number of inches taller than De Gea and impressed when called upon on the club's pre-season tour of the United States, and Ferguson may consider him better equipped to deal with Bolton's aerial threat.

Lindegaard also suggested earlier in the week that his first appearance of the season for the Premier League champions may not be far away.

"I do not know when, but probably faster than you think," a smiling Lindegaard told Norwegian television.

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