Hendo may need Euro spell to win De Gea’s place
THREE years ago Dean Henderson had finished his second loan spell away from United, adding seven appearances in League Two with Grimsby Town to the nine National League North fixtures he played at Stockport County.
The keeper had immense confidence in his own ability and he was highly-rated at Old Trafford, but he still looked a long way from challenging to be the Reds’ firstchoice, especially when the challenge would be to take David de Gea’s place.
But in the three seasons since almost everything has gone right for Henderson. It has been a textbook example of how a young player can use the loan system.
From a first full season of senior football in League One with Shrewsbury Town in 2017/18, Henderson progressed to the Championship with Sheffield United and returned to Bramall Lane this season for his first experience of Premier League football.
It’s as smooth a development curve as you could wish for and every loan spell has had something riding on it as well. From an unexpected tilt at promotion with Shrewsbury and two Wembley appearances, to helping the Blades out of the Championship last season and then coping with the spotlight and the pressure of the top flight this season.
Such has been Henderson’s rate of improvement in three years, there are plenty of shrewd judges suggesting he’s ready to replace De Gea.
That remains an unlikely prospect, however. Far more likely is Henderson being asked to take one more loan move and a decision on who to back as United’s No. 1 being made by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in 2021.
That gives Henderson another year to make an increasingly persuasive case and De Gea another season to rediscover his best form, a level that has deserted him recently.
If Henderson does make another loan move then the difficult decision will be picking a destination for the 23-year-old.
A return to Sheffield United might look the most obvious move, but will the Reds or the player learn much from that?
The Blades may be playing in Europe next season and it will be another campaign of Premier League football, but will it take him out of his comfort zone?
Progression has been the watchword for three successive seasons for Henderson and his camp. European football will provide that but it may be time for a fresh challenge every week as well.
Given United are unlikely to sanction a move to a long-term top-six rival and most of those clubs also have established No. 1s, it could be an opportunity for Henderson to really test himself with a loan move abroad.
We’ve seen young English players increasingly grasp the opportunity to enhance their footballing education overseas and that might be a realistic route for Henderson to go down for a season.
He’s unlikely to be short of offers and if he could find a club in La Liga, Serie A or the Bundesliga who could also offer European football then it could be a perfect scenario.
After completing League Two and the Championship, Henderson has already proven himself to be good enough for the Premier League. Next season should be about adding even more to his game, increasing his experiences and trying to make his case to be United No. 1 impossible to ignore.
A season on the continent may well do that.