Confident Henderson throws down gauntlet to absent No 1

EDWIN VAN DER SAR, watching from home in the Netherlands, liked what he saw and took to Twitter to praise Dean Henderson in that typically unfussy way of his. “Good throw Dean Henderson to start the attack and an unexpected goalscorer in Luke Shaw,” the former Manchester United goalkeeper said.

Van der Sar was no slouch when it came to throwing the ball out to a team-mate, but perhaps it was the name of another legendary United No 1 of old that would have crossed the lips of the club’s supporters at that moment.

Peter Schmeichel is maybe best remembered for his trademark starjump save, when he would thrust out those giant limbs and make himself look eight feet tall and seven feet wide.

But others may reflect more fondly on the sight of the ‘Great Dane’ kick-starting attacks by launching one of those huge throws of unerring accuracy.

Appreciate

So, Schmeichel would doubtless be one of the first to appreciate Henderson’s contribution to United’s fine second goal against neighbours Manchester City.

A goalkeeper playing a second consecutive Premier League match for the first time for United could have been forgiven for playing it safe in that instance, particularly with his team leading 1-0 at the home of a City side who had won 21 games in a row. But Henderson – like all the club’s good academy graduates – has never been short of confidence.

The easy option would have been for Henderson to roll the ball out to his right but, having taken his time to carefully survey the scene, the England goalkeeper spotted the space open up on United’s left and flung a 30-yard throw out to leftback Shaw.

The ball bounced perfectly in front of Shaw and, with Joao Cancelo making the unwise decision to try to intercept it, United’s impressive leftback was able to take the ball on his chest and ghost past the City player in one movement.

United were off and away, Shaw surging forward. He slipped the ball to Marcus Rashford, received the ball back and then, taking one touch to tee himself up, he steered his shot low through the legs of Rodri into the bottom corner.

It is not just the outfield players whom United fans want to play on the front foot and to have an attacking mindset, they want their goalkeeper to think positively, too.

And, in that regard, Henderson’s contribution for the goal was another feather in his cap on an afternoon when he grabbed the opportunity afforded to him with both hands.

Let’s be clear: a couple of games does not a United career make but, with United’s regular No 1, David de Gea, in Spain and unavailable for the time being following the birth of his daughter, Yanay, the chance of a sustained run of games that Henderson has long craved has opened up and the early reviews have been encouraging.

Like against Crystal Palace on Thursday, Henderson (above) was not unduly tested by City who, for all their 23 shots, managed only six on target and frequently found themselves frustrated by United’s back four, with Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire accomplished at centre-half and Shaw and the tidy Aaron Wan-Bissaka snuffing out Riyad Mahrez and Raheem Sterling respectively.

But, just as he had produced a crucial late save to deny Palace’s Patrick van Aanholt and preserve a point at Selhurst Park, Henderson equipped himself extremely well against the league leaders.

“He’s just growing, maturing, I’m very happy with him,” Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the United manager said. “His presence out there, you know there’s a future for him. A top, top ’keeper.”

Roy Keane, the former United captain who was in the Sky Sports studio on pundit duty, picked up on the word “presence” and he was right to do so.

Presence

Henderson did have a nice presence about him and United’s defence seemed to draw confidence from the man behind them, not least with his willingness to come to meet and collect those high balls that too often seem to bring out the worst in de Gea.

But for Solskjaer granting de Gea the time to go back home to be at the birth of his daughter, or the Spaniard perhaps succumbing to injury, it is hard to know whether Henderson would have been given a clear run to stake a first-team claim this term.

But the door has opened for Henderson and the 23-year-old is determined to make as much of an impression as he can before Solskjaer faces a big decision about his two main goalkeepers during the summer.

In many respects, that has heightened the pressure on Henderson to deliver but he took it in his stride against Manchester City, and United will hope he continues to do so. (© Telegraph Media Group Limited 2021)