Anders Lindegaard has waxed lyrical about one Manchester United player under Erik ten Hag and says he has the type of personality needed in the club’s dressing room.
The 40-year-old Dane arrived at Manchester United in 2010 from Norwegian side Aalesund for a fee believed to be around £3.5m.
Anders Lindegaard managed only 29 appearances for the Red Devils and spent the majority of his spell playing second fiddle to United legend David de Gea.
During his time at Old Trafford, the former United shot-stopper lifted the Premier League title under Sir Alex Ferguson in the 2012-13 season.
Lindegaard continued to play on at United after Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement and was unable to dislodge David de Gea from the No 1 spot at the club.
The former United player left Old Trafford in 2015 and went on to sign for West Brom, with Lindegaard later playing for Preston North End and Burnley.
Lindegaard saw out the rest of his playing career at Swedish side Helsingborg before he called it time on his playing career in 2022.
Lindegaard praises Man Utd player
Speaking to Manchester United’s official website, Anders Lindegaard opened up about his admiration for Tom Heaton and hailed the player as a “top professional.”
Tom Heaton, who started his career at Manchester United in the youth academy, returned to Old Trafford in 2021 after his contract with Aston Villa expired.
The 38-year-old is thought of highly at United and spent his summer with England at Euro 2024 in Germany after a surprise call-up from Gareth Southgate.
“I speak to Tom every now and again, he is a fantastic guy,” Lindegaard said.
“I love Tom. I am definitely going to see him when I come back [for the ‘Man United Legends’ match] in September and I’m very much looking forward to it.”
He continued: “He is a fantastic man, he’s a great goalkeeper, he is a top, top professional and I really understand why he is still at United.
“There is a huge benefit of having a personality like him in a locker room. Always positive, always smiling, and also very serious. He knows what it is about.”
Lindegaard on Heaton’s contract extension
Tom Heaton extended his stay with boyhood club United after he inked a new contract extension in the summer.
The United player has made three appearances for the club since his return to Old Trafford, with Heaton making his first-team debut back in 2021.
Lindegaard insisted that Heaton’s personality would allow him to have “an impact on any team,” despite his current role under Erik ten Hag.
The ex-United player welcomed the news that Heaton had extended his stay at Old Trafford, with Lindegaard adding that the shot-stopper is a “huge plus” for the club.
“He is not there to have fun,” Lindegaard said.
“He is there to win and to make an impact on the team. He definitely has a personality that will have an impact on any team, even though he is not playing for the first team.
“I am super happy for Tom that he renewed his contract but I am equally happy for Manchester United that they have signed him because I am sure he is a huge plus for the whole Manchester United equation.”
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