Man Utd keeper David De Gea's stats surpass his other PFA years

David De Gea has been named in the PFA Team of the Year for the third time and the statistics show that he has reached his best form as Manchester United goalkeeper.

The Spaniard has proved to be United's saviour many times this season -- most recently in the FA Cup quarterfinal against West Ham -- but was the only player from the Old Trafford club to be named in the PFA XI, which is voted on by all players from the 20 Premier League clubs.

The previous seasons in which De Gea was picked were in 2012-13 and 2014-15. He was also United's sole representative last season, but it was a different matter in 2012-13 when he was accompanied by Rio Ferdinand, Michael Carrick and Robin van Persie, as United finished the season as champions.

Here is a reflection of De Gea's efforts in the three years when he has earned his place in the side.

2015-16 season (up to April 22)

Premier League appearances: 30
Clean sheets: 14
Clean sheet percentage: 46.67
Goals conceded: 28
Average number of goals conceded per game: 0.93

De Gea began the campaign amid intense speculation about his future but -- instead of sulking about his move to Real Madrid falling through on deadline day -- he signed a new four-year contract then continued to produce the sort of stunning displays that have made him such a valued figure at the club. He was also handed the captain's armband after Wayne Rooney limped off against Ipswich in the Capital One Cup.

The Spaniard is now on course to win the club's Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award for the third season in a row -- and would be the first player to do so -- while he has kept more clean sheets this season than in any other previous Premier League campaign.

2014-15

Premier League appearances: 37
Clean sheets: 10
Clean sheet percentage: 27.03
Goals conceded: 37
Average number of goals conceded per game: 1.00

As Louis van Gaal's first season as Manchester United manager drew to a close, he was asked about which player had impressed him the most and he singled out De Gea. The Spaniard quickly made his mark by becoming the first man to save a Leighton Baines penalty in the Premier League -- after 14 successful efforts in a row by the Everton player -- and, by the end of the season, the keeper was hailed as having made "fantastic progress."

A low point was when United leaked five goals against Leicester, but there were many highs, including three successive clean sheets from late February to early March, and some stellar saves. As a result, United put a sizeable contract offer on the table for him, with Real Madrid interested.

2012-13

Premier League appearances: 28
Clean sheets: 11
Clean sheet percentage: 39.29
Goals conceded: 26
Average number of goals conceded per game: 0.93

Sir Alex Ferguson dismissed critics of David De Gea as "idiots" at the start of this campaign and, by the end, the Spaniard had repaid his boss' faith, helping United to their 20th league title.

It was De Gea's second season as a Manchester United goalkeeper and one in which he silenced his doubters with a brilliant run in the latter part of the season. That included six successive Premier League clean sheets up to April 2013 and shining in the Champions League against Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid. There had been rotation between De Gea and Anders Lindegaard at the start of the campaign, but there was only one winner in that battle by the season's end, as the Spaniard matured then starred.

Arindam is ESPN FC's Manchester United correspondent. Follow him @ARejSport