MANCHESTER United keeper David de Gea claims other players are ready to step into the breach to fill the void left by Wayne Rooney's three-match suspension.

Rooney will miss all his side's games in October, starting against his former side Everton on Sunday and including Chelsea's trip to Old Trafford, after being sent off during United's 2-1 Barclays Premier League win over West Ham.

De Gea, speaking at the launch of Manchester United's first global sustainable technology partner Abengoa, said: "Of course he's a really important player for us and he's the captain, but we have other players ready to play these games.

"We have a very important game on Sunday. We won very important points against West Ham with 10 players in a difficult match and if we win against Everton we'll be in a good position in the table.

"Darren Fletcher is the next captain and I think he will be a great captain.

"Of course it was a red card, but Wayne is a top player and I think he has to keep going."

United's wobbly defence has conceded 13 goals in seven matches since the start of the season and De Gea admits that improvement is needed.

He added: "We have to play well and defend well - we know we have great strikers and midfielders so if we defend well we will win the games.

"It's a new era, a new manager and new players, everything is new, but this is Manchester United and you have to win games and win titles."