Is it time for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to trust Dean Henderson in goal?

After saving Manchester United’s skin in the final moments against Crystal Palace on Wednesday night… is it time for manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to trust Dean Henderson in goal?

  • Dean Henderson made just his third Premier League start for Manchester United 
  • The England goalkeeper made a fine last-gasp save from Patrick Van Aanholt
  • David de Gea missed the 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace due to personal reasons 
  • REPORT: United drop points for second game running away to Crystal Palace

On Wednesday night, the decision was taken out of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s hands, with David de Gea missing against Crystal Palace due to personal reasons. In a few months it will be entirely his to make.

Along with which positions to strengthen, settling on who will be Manchester United’s No 1 long term will be another of Solskjaer’s summer headaches.

De Gea’s absence at Palace meant just a third Premier League start for Dean Henderson. 

Dean Henderson kept a clean sheet in goal against Crystal Palace on Wednesday evening 

The Manchester United goalkeeper saved superbly from Patrick Van Aanholt at the end 

Mostly, he has had to make do with game time in the cups this season. That is not the level of opportunity the England keeper would have expected this season nor, perhaps, what he has deserved.

It certainly will not cut it next season. Henderson, 23, has ambitions for club and country and another season of playing second fiddle won’t satisfy a stopper whose admirable determination to get out and play has been a feature of his young career.

In the main this season Solskjaer has preferred the safer option of the two, De Gea’s pedigree and experience earning the 30-year-old the nod.

The United goalkeeper was faultless at Palace and he will now want to cement himself as No 1

Henderson though is the future and a more positive, commanding and communicative goalkeeper, qualities appreciated by his team-mates. 

Right at the death, Henderson spared United defeat with a brilliant one-on-one-save to deny Patrick Van Aanholt.

Before that, his handling was faultless with a couple of confident and pressure-relieving claims, exactly the sort defenders always welcome.

Is he United’s future specifically over the long-serving De Gea? That is Solskjaer’s call to make.

As United legend Gary Neville said when the No 1 position was brought up in a Twitter Q&A on Wednesday: ‘A big decision is coming soon.’

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will have to decide this summer who is United’s long-term No 1 keeper 




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