Manchester United's David De Gea is ready to be Spain number one again says Vicente Del Bosque

Spain boss Vicente del Bosque says Manchester United keeper David De Gea has told him he "is ready" to be his number one in the European Championship qualifier against Macedonia on Tuesday (8 September) after overcoming the disappointment of his failed move to Real Madrid on Spanish transfer deadline day (31 August). The national team manager said he is yet to decide his line-up for the game but suggested he will make some changes after Iker Casillas played in the 2-0 victory over Slovakia on Saturday.

De Gea is yet to play an official game in the current season after Louis van Gaal left the Spaniard out of his squad for the first four matches of the Premier League campaign, saying he was not mentally ready due to the speculation over the Madrid move. Del Bosque, however, decided to include him in his 23-man squad for the European Championship qualifiers against Slovakia and Macedonia.

The Spain boss nevertheless warned De Gea that it would be "very difficult" for him to retain his place in the national squad ahead of France 2016 if he remains frozen out at United. "I guess if he doesn't play it will be very difficult for him to come [to the Euros]," Del Bosque said.

The manager had told Cadena Cope he didn't expect to speak with him about the failure of his transfer to go through unless he felt it necessary. "No (I don't plan to have a private conversation with him), but if there is any need I will say something. But he will take this episode like any other. Everything that happens is for a reason. I want him to play and to be happy, and to play well so I can select him."

But Del Bosque has now revealed that he did eventually have that conversation. "He's in condition to play. 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. He is a mature guy and is ready to play without suffering any burden of what happened," Del Bosque said to Cope on Sunday night.

"I have talked to him this morning (on Sunday 6 September). I did not want to give him any advice because many people have already done it. I just asked whether he was in condition to play and he told me yes. Nothing else.

"We have a big squad and we must rotate it. There are just a few hours to rest between the games and it's normal to make some changes. There is little difference between those who played (against Slovakia) and those who didn't play and it is important to use the entire squad."