Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
I’M THE NEW DEAN GEA
Blades’ loan star Hendo wants No.1 Old Trafford shirt
MANCHESTER UNITED keeper Dean Henderson is preparing to challenge for the No.1 jersey – if David De Gea quits Old Trafford.
The England Under-21 star is on loan at Sheffield United this season and hopes Jose Mourinho’s staff are taking note of his displays, saying: “The cream rises to the top.”
Henderson, 21, produced a series of brilliant saves and put down another strong marker that he is ready for a first-team chance at Old Trafford.
He was watched by a United staff member, but is happy, for now, to concentrate on getting promotion with the Blades this term.
With De Gea likely to quit United on a free transfer in the summer, Henderson wants to earn a shot at the Spain keeper’s shirt.
He said: “All I am focused on is getting promotion with Sheffield United to the Premier League. That is my immediate goal.
“Last year, I wanted to get Shrewsbury into the Championship. It didn’t quite happen, but I’m clear in my aims this season.
“If United are not seeing what I am doing then that’s their problem. I will keep doing what I am doing and cream rises to the top.”
Blades boss Chris Wilder (above) absolved Henderson from a post-match blast that he gave the rest of his squad after a lacklustre display let a win slip away in stoppage time.
It was a dent to his side’s top-two dream, and Henderson added: “There was no excuse for what happened. They chucked everything at it. We had more quality, but they knew how to get a result.”
Mark Duffy gave the Blades the lead, but Jon Taylor levelled for Rotherham, before Chris Basham thought he had won it for the visitors in the 84th minute.
Jamie Proctor, however, lashed in a last-gasp equaliser for the Millers. He said: “I’m buzzing. To score any goal is good, but in a Yorkshire derby it is great.”