EVERLASTING
In-form Henderson is the present AND the future for United... which spells trouble for De Gea
DAVID DE GEA could be gone from Manchester United in a year with Dean Henderson in line to become Old Trafford’s No.1.
That is the view of former United keeper Chris Turner who believes Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has seen enough to know Henderson is not just the future – he’s the here and now.
And that could spell bad news for 30-year-old De Gea with his monster £350,000-a-week wages now being scrutinised by United’s hierarchy in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Henderson has played in United’s last six games after De Gea returned to Spain for the birth of his first child with partner, Edurne Garcia.
He has kept four clean sheets including tough away wins at Manchester City and AC Milan.
Standards
Turner, who played almost 100 games for United under Ron Atkinson and Sir Alex Ferguson in the mid1980s, believes a changing of the goalkeeping guard is inevitable – and could happen sooner rather than later.
“Henderson looks like he could be United’s keeper for the next 10 years,” says Turner, who has been impressed with the way the 24-year-old has grabbed his chance.
“I’m not sure when the shift will come, but if Dean keeps his place against Brighton after the international break the writing will be on the wall for De Gea.
“Let’s be clear, though, De Gea has done nothing wrong. He is still a worldclass keeper and has proved himself time and again.
“You can’t just dismiss what he’s given United over the last 10 years. But he’s not had any real competition in all that time. And when you know you are going to be playing week in week out your standards can slip.
“All of a sudden Dean has emerged as a genuine threat and is proving himself a capable keeper who will only get better with more experience.
“There’s no way De Gea will want to play second fiddle to a younger keeper.
“So maybe he’ll look to move back to Spain in the next 12 months although his huge wages could be a problem. I still think he’ll be at United next season and will want to force his way back in, but this is where Solskjaer’s man management will be vital.
“Years ago I remember Peter Shilton and Ray Clemence sharing the England shirt. But you can’t keep chopping and changing at club level.
“No keeper wants a situation where you’re playing on the edge knowing if you make one mistake you’re dropped. That’s no good for anyone. I know from experience you have to feel relaxed to play your best, not uptight and fearful.
“But if Solskjaer handles it right the competition between them will be good and keep both of them on their toes while they are both still vying for the jersey.”
Although Henderson looks capable, Turner reckons he will only learn to be top drawer by making errors. He added: “Henderson has got to make some mistakes, but in a good way because you learn from them.
Concentration
“You don’t really learn from the good games. Making mistakes keeps you on your toes.
“He already knows after the mistake against AC Milan that it’s different being a Man United keeper than one at Sheffield United. When I came from Sunderland to United I was used to being in action for 70 to 80 per cent of the game.
“At United it was about 20 per cent so concentration is vital.
“The pressure on a United keeper is extreme and every mistake magnified.
“I remember playing for United against Arsenal at Highbury in the first game of the season and we lost to a late Charlie Nicholas goal.
“The next day we were hammered and our season was written off after just one game!
“That’s the pressure at Old Trafford – but Henderson can handle it.”