David De Gea wins third successive Player of the Year award

David De Gea has been crowned Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year for 2015/16, becoming the first player to win the coveted award in three consecutive seasons.

The goalkeeper - also named in the PFA Team of the Year - has enjoyed yet another outstanding campaign for Manchester United, keeping 14 clean sheets in 32 Premier League games so far and making a number of spectacular saves to cement his status as one of the world's top shot-stoppers.

United's influential no.1 also won the award in 2014 and 2015. Only one other player has picked up the prize on three occasions, Cristiano Ronaldo (2004, 2007, 2008).

While collecting the Sir Matt Busby statuette in his safe hands once again, De Gea said on stage at Old Trafford: "It is difficult for me to say anything; winning this trophy three years in a row is amazing. I am really happy, it's an honour to receive this and I want to thank the fans, who are the best in the world.

"It is amazing to win this award three times in a row. I want to thank everyone one and we will keep fighting."

"I think everyone in the dressing room is important and now we have something important to win at Wembley. If we win the FA Cup, then it will be a good season."

When asked about his penalty save to thwart Everton's Romelu Lukaku in the FA Cup semi-final, De Gea revealed: "My team-mates took ten penalties at me in training and I didn't save one! But I saved the important one and then, thanks to Anthony's goal, we are in the final. I am really happy for that.

"It is really important for us, for the club. It has a lot of history and, for sure, we will do everything to win this."

Speaking to ManUtd.com last month, De Gea's friend and team-mate Ander Herrera was full of praise for his fellow Spaniard, saying: "He is the number one in the world. In England you know that, but in the rest of the world they think they have better goalkeepers, but I don't think so. When we win titles or trophies I think he will be more recognised.

"He has a special talent. When you are born with that quality and ability, you are so lucky. The rest of us humans, we have to work more. But what I like about him is that he is very calm, he has his feet on the ground. I think he is number one of Spain and in the world - he is my friend so I am very happy for him."