Van der Sar's contract with the Premiership champions expires at the end of the season but he is in no hurry to agree a new deal.

The Dutchman struggled at times last season and was blamed for Didier Drogba's FA Cup final winner, but an injury to Ben Foster means the 36-year-old will start the season as United's first choice stopper.

He is refreshed after a lengthy break and insists he will be back to his best this season.

"Last season was a long campaign but I had a long break and I feel good," he told United's website.

"I am not thinking about what is going to happen. If I am still enjoying myself, then we will see but nothing will be decided before January.

"You always have to be at your best at United," he said. "If you are not, someone else is always ready to take your place.

"I did not have the same consistency at the end of last season as I had in the previous campaign. I don't know why.

"But when you make mistakes, you look at how to improve and then get on with it."

Van der Sar believes Sir Alex Ferguson's close-season signings of Owen Hargreaves, Anderson and Nani make United a good bet to retain the Premiership crown.

But he knows they must get off to a quick start, beginning with their opener against Reading, to ensure they stay ahead of their title rivals.

"We must make sure we get off to a good start, like we did last season," he said.

"We have three games in the first week and it is important we do well in them otherwise we can end up under pressure straight away.

"From then on, the team will grow and the new players will learn what is expected of them."