Dean Henderson is on the verge of another loan spell away from Manchester United as Nottingham Forest prepare to take the England international for the entire campaign next term
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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer once claimed with some certainty that Dean Henderson will go on to be Manchester United’s first-choice goalkeeper.
That idea seems further away now than when the ex-United boss first made the suggestion as the England international is on the cusp of leaving the Red Devils, albeit on a temporary basis, to join newly-promoted Nottingham Forest on loan. Erik ten Hag wasted little time in culling Henderson from the first-team fold, though in truth the ‘keeper was most likely just as desperate for game-time.
After a two-season loan spell with Sheffield United in which he helped get the Blades promoted to the Premier League, Henderson returned to United with quite the reputation. The young shot-stopper was already being tipped to dislodge David de Gea as United’s number one.
Henderson’s spell at Bramall Lane even prompted Solskjaer to wax lyrical over the young goalkeeper before he had represented the Red Devils at senior level. “Dean has made some great choices over the years and has developed fantastically,” the Norwegian explained.
“We’re looking at that in terms of where he’s going to be next season, but as yet that has not been decided. This season has proved a great experience for him, he’s done himself some favours with his performances, and proved he will be England’s number one and Man United’s number one at some point.”
Towards the back-end of the 2019/20 Premier League season, Henderson got his chance and for the most part took it. There was the odd error here and there but he proved he could operate between the sticks for a club as big as United.
Yet, during the off-season and a summer that contained a major international tournament – disaster struck. Henderson was ruled out of the England squad for Euro 2020 after sustaining a serious knee injury which had knock-on consequences to his club standing.
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Alongside contracting Covid-19, Henderson’s fitness woes meant he was in no position to start the 2021/22 Premier League and presented De Gea with the chance to reclaim his spot – it was a chance he took with both hands.
The Spaniard has been in fine form ever since and was one of the few United stars who could come away from a disastrous season last term with any kind of credit.
With all this being said, there is plenty of life left in Henderson’s hopes of establishing himself as United’s first-choice shot-stopper. The very fact his switch to the City Ground is a loan deal clearly indicates United still harbour hopes for him in the long-term.
At just 25 years of age, Henderson is very much still a youngster within the context of most goalkeeping careers. He is six years the junior of the man in front of him at Old Trafford in 31-year-old De Gea.
There is every chance the Forest new boy returns from Nottingham in 12 months time and the landscape looks different at United. Few players know just how rewarding a loan spell can be more than Henderson.
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