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David De Gea could step up his preparations for his likely return to action for Manchester United when Spain play Macedonia this evening.
With the transfer window now closed and the saga surrounding his proposed move to Real Madrid over for now, it's expected that Louis van Gaal will re-introduce De Gea into the fold having opted not to select him so far this term.
Manchester United's next match is against Liverpool this weekend, a fixture De Gea may be able to help prepare for by getting his first competitive minutes of the season under his belt in Spain's Euro 2016 qualifier in Skopje tonight.
Spain manager Vicente del Bosque has said De Gea is ready to play a part.
“He (De Gea) is in condition to play,” Del Bosque said. “We have talked with him and he is fine. I do not know if he will play or not, but he is OK and that’s all I wanted to know."
Show all 17 1 /17Premier League Power Rankings - Game Week 5 Premier League Power Rankings - Game Week 5 17) Dusan Tadic (Southampton) new entry Had started the season slowly but showed he is getting back to last season's form with an excellent double as the Saints picked up their first win of the season against Norwich. He scored four goals and seven assists last season but the Serbian will want to improve on those totals in 2015-16. Last fixture: W - 3-0 - Norwich Next fixture: West Brom (a)
Premier League Power Rankings - Game Week 5 16) Bafetimbi Gomis (Swansea) new entry Wilfried who? Jefferson Montero and Andre Ayew have taken much credit for the Swans' brilliant start but the powerful Gomis just keeps scoring. Nine goals in his last 10 Premier League matches stretching back to last season Last fixture: W - 2-1 - Man United Next fixture: Watford (a)
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Premier League Power Rankings - Game Week 5 15) Manuel Lanzini (West Ham) new entry Mark Noble would have been in this spot but the Hammers' captain was very harshly sent off at Anfield after a brilliant performance and will miss the next game. Lanzini looked quick and sharp all afternoon at Anfield, providing Dejan Lovren with the latest of his horror shows. Last fixture: W - 3-0 - Liverpool Next fixture: Newcastle (h)
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Premier League Power Rankings - Game Week 5 14) Pedro (Chelsea) - down 3 The former Barcelona man has hit the ground running at Chelsea with a goal and two assists in his first two matches in Blue. But Chelsea have hardly been convincing in either match, not through Pedro's efforts, and he'll face what should be the toughest test of the three matches so far with a trip to an always imposing Goodison Park. Last fixture: L - 1-2 - Crystal Palace Next fixture: Everton (a)
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Premier League Power Rankings - Game Week 5 13) Callum Wilson (Bournemouth) - up 3 The quick striker continues to prove he is cut out for life in the top flight with a spectacular goal to make it four in his last two matches. Wilson scored at Carrow Road last season in a 1-1 draw but these are the kind of games Eddie Howe will be looking at if the Cherries are to survive. Last fixture: D - 1-1 - Leicester Next fixture: Norwich (a)
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Premier League Power Rankings - Game Week 5 12) Salomon Rondon (West Brom) - up 2 They were against just nine men for just under an hour but were pretty much the inferior side at the Britannia, as they failed to capitalise on the advantage and create real chances. But the Venezuelan is starting to show he could have been a very astute signing by Pulis with a goal and an assist in his two Premier League matches. Last fixture: W - 1-0 - Stoke Next fixture: Southampton (h)
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Premier League Power Rankings - Game Week 5 11) Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) - down 1 Had, and missed, his very best chance of the season when he raced through one-on-one. Looked tired, low on confidence and like he was thinking about it too much when he fired straight at Tim Howard. Sunderland is as good a place as any to get a goal - and Kane needs one soon Last fixture: D - 0- 0 - Everton Next fixture: Sunderland (a)
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Premier League Power Rankings - Game Week 5 10) Yohan Cabaye (Crystal Palace) - up 3 It wasn't a vintage performance by the Frenchman who failed to get on the ball as much as he can do, but it was controlled as Palace defended stoutly against the might of the champions. Probably should have scored in the first-half but Alan Pardew's team have won three out of four in a brilliant start to the campaign. Another tough test to come. Last fixture: W - 2-1 - Chelsea Next fixture: Man City (h)
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Premier League Power Rankings - Game Week 5 9) Eden Hazard (Chelsea) - down 2 Another very poor performance by last season's Player of the Year, who looks out of sorts and extremely fatigued. Chelsea will be hoping the international break affords him some rest - they desperately need him to get back to his best. Last fixture: L - 1-2 - Crystal Palace Next fixture: Everton (a)
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Premier League Power Rankings - Game Week 5 8) Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City) - down 3 His brilliant start come to a grinding halt on the South Coast. After four goals in his opening three matches the winger was hauled off at half-time by Claudio Ranieri following an anonymous performance (though he was wrongly called offside and a goal should have stood). Last fixture: D - 1-1 Bournemouth (a) Next fixture: Aston Villa (h)
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Premier League Power Rankings - Game Week 5 7) John Stones (Everton) - up 2 This kind of thing always seems to happen. Stones, the man whom Chelsea chased relentlessly throughout the transfer window, will next go up against the very club that wanted him so badly. Last fixture: D - 0-0 - Tottenham (a) Next fixture: Chelsea (h)
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Premier League Power Rankings - Game Week 5 6) Sergio Aguero (Manchester City) - non-mover A non-mover after a pretty low-key performance against Watford, where Raheem Sterling took the limelight after scoring his first goal for the club. Despite only scoring one in four this season, he remains the most dangerous striker in the division. Last fixture: W - 2-0 Watford Next fixture: Crystal Palace (a)
Premier League Power Rankings - Game Week 5 5) Jermain Defoe (Sunderland) - down 1 All jokes about personal assistants aside, Defoe remains Sunderland's best hope at staying up - and yet one of the best poachers in the division appears to be playing a deeper, more creative role. Defoe is a more rounded, and slower player, than he previously was, but his strength has never been creating for others - Dick Advocaat needs Defoe to be the one on the end of passes, not the other way round Last fixture: D - 2-2 - Aston Villa Next fixture: Spurs (h)
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Premier League Power Rankings - Game Week 5 4) Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal) - down 1 Not at his best against Newcastle but still very clearly Arsenal's most important player - Arsene Wenger's lack of transfer activity this summer only makes him more so. Last fixture: W - 1-0 - Newcastle Next fixture: Stoke (h)
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Premier League Power Rankings - Game Week 5 3) Christian Benteke (Liverpool) - down 2 An afternoon to forget against West Ham, but this Liverpool team have so far looked better away from home, where the Belgian gets a bit more room to use his pace and power against defences high up the pitch. Old Trafford is next. Last fixture: L - 0-3 - West Ham Next fixture: Man United (a)
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Premier League Power Rankings - Game Week 5 2) David Silva (Manchester City) - non-mover The best attacking midfielder by a mile in the division, Silva is in a league of his own in England. Sterling took the praise against Watford but Silva will be the man Palace need to stop first if they are to continue their great start to the season Last fixture: W - 2-0 - Watford Next fixture: Crystal Palace (a)
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Premier League Power Rankings - Game Week 5 1) Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) - up 7 This is not a reflection of how well the captain has played this season, because he hasn't. At all. Will likely return to club football as England's all-time leading goalscorer (a rather hollow record as he has just one in World Cups), Rooney faces a massive question mark over whether he is the man to lead United from the front, or if he would be better off back in a deeper role. What better place to prove the doubters wrong (again) than by performing against his biggest rivals. Last fixture: L - 1-2 - Swansea Next fixture: Liverpool (h)
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Sergio Romero, the summer arrival who has been filling the gap between the posts for Manchester United in De Gea's absence, has admitted his position as starter is not secure.
"Playing for United is a dream and if God helps me this dream will never end," said the Argentina international.
"As I have been saying: I have to thank Van Gaal for trusting me. But let me tell you, I don't think that the goalkeeper spot in United is already mine. I do know that I have a huge support from Van Gaal and his staff."
He added: “Although I had not done a pre-season, I started playing for the biggest club in the world.
“It’s important for a goalkeeper to have this support.
“That is because there is no rotation between goalkeepers - a goalkeeper starts or he is benched. They are the only two choices - there is not a third one.
“And Van Gaal has given me his trust.”
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