David de Gea sends Manchester United warning about Leeds United fixture

After 472 appearances for Manchester United, there isn't much that David de Gea hasn't experienced, but Sunday will bring a first for the Spanish shot-stopper.

The 31-year-old kept a clean sheet in United's goalless draw at Leeds last April but he's never before played for the club in front of a crowd at Elland Road.

De Gea has kept his goal under lock and key at Anfield and the Etihad, but for United goalkeepers there is nowhere quite as hostile as the penalty area in front of a baying Kop at Elland Road.

The former Atletico Madrid has been around United long enough to have heard the stories and he was an unused substitute in the 3-0 League Cup win there in September 2011.

United are so unpopular in this part of Yorkshire that there was an edge to the atmosphere in an empty stadium last season and, having gone 19 years since being able to 'welcome' United to Elland Road, the locals are likely to turn the volume up on Sunday.

“I know it’s a massive rivalry between the teams," said De Gea.

“It’s going to be a tough game, especially away against Leeds – good team, difficult team, different team.

“But we have to win this game as well to be in the top four and hopefully we can go there and win.”

It's the start of a significant week for De Gea, who returns to Atletico for the first time on Wednesday in the Champions League last-16, but right now a Spanish homecoming is at the back of the mind as he steels himself for the trip to Elland Road and another crucial game in United's battle to secure fourth place.

“Yeah, but my mind at the moment is just about Leeds," he said on that Atleti tie.

“Prepare well for the game, be ready for the game and this is the most important things — not just for me for but the team to be ready