Former Liverpool defender Mark Lawrenson has said that Manchester United's new goalkeeper David de Gea must bulk up and gain a bigger presence if he is to succeed at Old Trafford.

Writing for The Mirror, 54-year-old Lawrenson said that De Gea is yet to impress him this season.

"De Gea has been decent. But no more. It took Peter Schmeichel a while to fit in but not, in my opinion, this long."

The Spanish keeper has made a few mistakes this season including a kicking error in United's 2-2 draw with Benfica on Tuesday and Lawrenson added that the 21-year-old's slender presence between the posts wasn't helping his cause.

"De Gea looks does not look as if he fills the goal yet, either in stature or size. In many ways, he looks as if he needs bulking up," added Lawrenson.

"United will surely get him pumping weights as quickly as possible because he needs physical strength in his armoury.

"He does not command his penalty box in the way that Van der Sar or Schmeichel used to. He is a younger, more inexperienced man but must add that to his game."

The Spanish Under-21 international will be hoping to line up in goal for United when they take on Newcastle this afternoon.