Gary Neville casts doubt over Dean Henderson at Manchester United as he backs David de Gea

Gary Neville casts doubt over whether Dean Henderson ‘can be Manchester United’s goalkeeper for the next 10 years’ – and says Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was RIGHT to stick by David de Gea

Gary Neville believes Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer made the right choice by backing David de Gea as the club’s No 1, as he reserves judgement on goalkeeping understudy Dean Henderson.

The goalkeeping position at Old Trafford was a source of contention going into the season with De Gea’s position under threat from a returning Henderson who had excelled on loan at Sheffield United.

Henderson had plenty of suitors off the back of stint at Bramall Lane but Solskjaer convinced him to fight for a place at United instead.

Dean Henderson

Gary Neville believes it was the right decision to keep David de Gea (left) as Manchester United’s first-choice goalkeeper instead of Dean Henderson

However, the England international – who has designs on going to the delayed Euros next summer – has had to play second fiddle to De Gea this season.

The Spaniard has an upturn in form since Henderson’s return and Neville feels Solskjaer was right to stick with him in goal as Henderson is yet to prove he can handle the demands of playing for big club like United on a consistent basis.

‘I think De Gea is the No 1 as Henderson has a lot to do in mind. I don’t get carried away by a young and talented goalkeeper at Manchester United,’ the club legend told Viaplay Fotball.

I’ve seen it before over the last 25 years where there have been young and talented goalkeepers who have threatened to come in but to stand in those goals at the club, in particular when fans come back into the stadium, then they are big, big boots to fill. Only Edwin van der Sar and Peter Schmeichel have filled those boots in my time, while David de Gea has now.

‘I think he’s [De Gea] probably been better this season. I was nervous about him towards the end of last season and I think even Ole would’ve been looking at him and thinking “you’re not far away from being left out”.

‘But I think now he’s stuck with him, which I think is the right thing to do. If you’re going to take someone like him out then you have to make sure that you’re absolutely certain because once you take him out of the team you really are moving his confidence away and he may as well leave the club.

‘For me, I think it’s exciting that Henderson is coming through but I reserve my judgement on whether he can become somebody who can go in Manchester United’s goal in the next 10 years.’ 

De Gea has featured 12 times for United so far this campaign, compared to Henderson’s four.

However, the 23-year-old could add to his tally on Wednesday night in the Champions League against Paris Saint-Germain after De Gea suffered a knee injury during Sunday’s 3-2 Premier League win at Southampton.