Manchester United may have a new permanent No. 1 goalkeeper in Senne Lammens, who marked an impressive debut against Sunderland at the weekend with several saves and a clean sheet
Man Utd Goalkeeping Coach Craig Mawson, Tom Heaton, Lee Grant, Dermot Mee, Paul Woolston, Dean Henderson, David de Gea, Goalkeeping coach Richard Hartis
Dean Henderson came through the Manchester United academy(Image: Getty Images)
View 3 Images
Senne Lammens made quite the impression on his Manchester United debut this weekend - but a strong first showing doesn't always guarantee a long-term place in the first team.
It's a lesson former United goalkeeper Dean Henderson learned the hard way. After dazzling in his first appearance for the club during a League Cup tie against Luton back in 2020, Henderson was tipped for the very top.
Many - including then-manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer - saw him not just as United's future No. 1, but England's as well. Ultimately, though, neither prediction came to pass.
With David de Gea firmly established ahead of him, Henderson found opportunities hard to come by. He later suggested that promises had been broken and admitted that his patience at Old Trafford "wasted" a large portion of his career.
After joining United's academy in 2011, Henderson took his first steps into senior football on loan at Stockport County. His breakthrough, however, came at Sheffield United, where his standout performances in the club's 2019/20 Premier League campaign cemented his reputation as one of England's brightest talents.
Interest in Henderson was high at the end of the season, but he decided to stay at United after reportedly being told he'd be first choice in a year's time. Things initially started brightly. After making what Henderson described as a "dream" debut for the club, he went on to make 26 appearances in all competitions in 2020/21.
Dean Henderson and David de Gea warming up in 2020
Dean Henderson was forced to play second-fiddle to David de Gea at Man United, despite allegedly being promised the No. 1 shirt
View 3 Images
"I dreamt about this my whole life!!" Henderson wrote on social media after his first appearance in a United shirt. "Unbelievable feeling to make my debut for the club I love! Clean sheet and a win to top it off!!!"
However, by the time the 2021/22 season rolled around, it was clear that De Gea would not only remain at the club, but also keep the No. 1 shirt - leaving Henderson understandably feeling let down.
"To sit there and waste 12 months is criminal really, at my age. I was fuming," he told talkSPORT in 2022. "I turned so many good loans down last summer for that reason [being promised No.1 spot], and they wouldn't let me go. It was frustrating."
Henderson took matters into his own hands, hurriedly organising a loan move to Nottingham Forest before new manager Erik ten Hag's arrival in the summer of 2022. "I didn't really want the manager to come in and be able to see me in training because I knew he'd probably want to keep me," Henderson explained.
"So I tried to do it all before I left for the season, I told all the hierarchy I need to go and play football. I don't want to be here playing second fiddle. And it panned out so I was almost gone before the manager came in the door and I haven't spoken to him since."
At the City Ground, Henderson finally got the game-time he'd been craving. But an ill-timed thigh injury ruled him out for the second half of the season, halting the momentum he'd finally been building.
A permanent move to Crystal Palace followed in 2023, though his first season at Selhurst Park saw him share goalkeeping duties with Sam Johnstone. By the 2024/25 campaign, however, Henderson had truly come into his own - establishing himself as Palace's first-choice goalkeeper.
Dean Henderson celebrates with the FA Cup trophy
Henderson's career is now in full swing at Crystal Palace
View 3 Images
He capped off the campaign in style, saving a penalty in Palace's remarkable 1-0 victory over Manchester City in the FA Cup final. Now, he stands as a key figure in the squad as the club embarks on its first-ever European adventure in the Conference League this season.
United must be looking on with some regret. The man who was blocking Henderson's path, David de Gea, left the same summer the Red Devils academy graduate did. De Gea's successor, Andre Onana, then endured a difficult two-year spell between the posts before moving on loan to Trabzonspor last month.
In the weeks since, Altay Bayindir has been tasked with filling the void, with mixed results. However, there is cause for optimism. Summer signing Senne Lammens made a bright impression during Saturday's 2-0 win over Sunderland, producing a couple of crucial saves to secure United's first clean sheet of the season.
The Belgian also stood out for his composure, both on the ball and when facing shots, and looks well on his way to establishing himself as United's No. 1. But as Henderson's cautionary tale has taught us, a positive start doesn't guarantee anything.
Here at the Manchester Evening News, we’re dedicated to bringing you the best Manchester United coverage and analysis.
Make sure you don’t miss out on the latest United news by joining our free WhatsApp group. You can get all the breaking news and best analysis sent straight to your phone by clicking here to subscribe.
You can also subscribe to our free newsletter service. Click here to be sent all the day’s biggest stories.
And finally, if you’d rather listen to our expert analysis then make sure to check out our Manchester is Red podcast. Our shows are available on all podcast platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and you can also watch along on YouTube.