Solskjaer hopes to have goalkeeper De Gea back ‘very soon’

By: The Associated Press Posted: 11:42 AM CST Friday, Mar. 5, 2021 Last Modified: 11:49 AM CST Friday, Mar. 5, 2021

MANCHESTER, England - Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea will have “the time he needs” before returning to the team following a trip to Spain for the birth of his child, manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said Friday.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 05/03/2021 (2037 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

MANCHESTER, England – Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea will have “the time he needs” before returning to the team following a trip to Spain for the birth of his child, manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said Friday.

De Gea is unavailable for Sunday’s Manchester derby and missed Wednesday’s 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace after he and his girlfriend travelled to Spain for the birth.

“I’ll give him the time he needs before he comes back,” Solskjaer said, acknowledging coronavirus protocols as well.

FILE - In this Saturday Feb. 6, 2021 file photo, Manchester United's goalkeeper David de Gea warms up before their English Premier League soccer match against Everton at the Old Trafford stadium in Manchester, England. Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says goalkeeper David De Gea will have “the time he needs” before returning to the team following a trip to Spain for the birth of his child. De Gea is unavailable for the Manchester derby on Sunday, March 7 and missed Wednesday’s 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace after he and his girlfriend traveled to Spain for the birth. (Alex Pantling/Pool via AP, file)

“As soon as David travels back we just have to follow the government rules,” he said. “I expect him to be available very soon.”

Dean Henderson will replace the Spaniard for second-placed United when they visit Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

“He asked to go home. In the old world, that’s a day and you come back and you’re ready again,” Solskjaer said. “Now with the pandemic and the quarantines, of course, it’s a different world.”

Solskjaer expressed confidence in Henderson. “Dean did well against Palace,” he said.

First-placed City has a 14-point cushion over United.