THROWN IN AT THE DEEP HEND

Henderson has come a very long way since his Stockport debut in 2015, but that journey has made him the confident young keeper he is... so be afraid De Gea, be very afraid

JUST under five years ago, an 18-year-old Dean Henderson made his debut for Stockport County.

On a cold January day, Nuneaton Borough were the visitors for a National League North game.

“I remember there’s a big guy, first minute, saying, ‘Put it on the keeper, he’s, er, pooing himself ’. I thought, ‘Oh, God’,” said Henderson.

“It’s come in, I’ve gone for the cross, completely missed it, and it went in the goal. I wanted to be swallowed up at the time, but I had to dust myself off and get on with it.”

Henderson has certainly got on with it.

Having joined Manchester United’s academy at the age of 14, he has had loan spells at Stockport, Grimsby and Shrewsbury before a sparkling two- year stint with Sheffield United earned him a new, lucrative five-year deal at Old Trafford. And while there has never been top- class keeper short of confidence, few 23- year- olds come across as self-assured as Henderson.

“For any young keeper it’s 80 per cent mental,” he explains. “I know it sounds weird, but going out and having to prove yourself the long way around, through the leagues, then you’ve got to have a bit of an edge. I believe I’ve got that edge.

“It sets me in good stead and it works for me. It doesn’t work for everyone, but I’m happy with who I am.”

And while David De Gea has established himself as a modern-day United great after almost a decade at the club, it is clear Henderson believes he will force himself ahead of the Spaniard.

“David has been a great keeper for many years,” said Henderson.

“He’s been phenomenal and that’s something I aspire to be, to have a career like his at the club.

“It’s down to me, but I’m under no illusions that I’m going to improve just sat on the bench. I need that game-time. I know what challenges are ahead and I’m well up for it. I feel like a new signing at Man United.” Henderson’s appetite

for the challenge has been whetted by those two seasons under the no- nonsense management of Blades boss Chris Wilder.

It is fair to say it has made a man out of a raw young keeper.

Henderson explains: “Chris was a great manager, rough and ready, just what I needed. He put me in line when I needed to be put in line but really strongly believed in me, which is something I loved about him. He made me feel 10ft tall.

“A lot of the boys said that… real men turn up to big events and that was the saying when we went

SAVING THE DAY Henderson in the mood to shine for United and claim the No.1 jersey for himself – after his fine stint at Sheffield United (below) and (far left) in action for Grimsby out just before the games. That’s something I model myself on. Don’t go hiding. Always be there. Never shy away from criticism, just try my best as much as I can.

“I’m ready for any challenge thrown my way.” Henderson has two immediate, formidable challenges ahead – prove himself a better option than Jordan Pickford and Nick Pope for his country and a better option than De Gea for his club.

He is clearly relishing both.

Henderson added: “I want to play for England and I want to play for Man United.

“I’m just going to keep working hard every single day, overcoming my little challenges, setting my little goals and I’m sure one day I’ ll get to where I want to be.”

And it will be a long way from Stockport on a chilly winter’s afternoon.