Aniket Rai
Michael Owen advises Solskjaer to make Dean Henderson his first-choice goalkeeper
Speaking to Premier League TV (h/t Mirror), ex-Manchester United striker Michael Owen suggested that if Ole Gunnar Solskjaer ever wanted to bench David de Gea in order to make Dean Henderson the club’s number one goalkeeper, then now is a perfect time.
Solskjaer finds himself in an uncomfortable position as he attempts to keep the club’s first-choice goalkeeper David de Gea and 23-year-old youngster Dean Henderson both happy at the club.
The Spanish goalkeeper has never had to face competition for his starting spot at United in his 9 years at the club. (h/t Mirror)
However, Dean Henderson’s form last season has ignited the debate to make David de Gea the backup goalkeeper for the first time in his Red Devils career.
Recently, Dean Henderson got his first Premier League outing for Manchester United when he replaced the injured David de Gea at half-time against Southampton.
The English goalkeeper impressed as United came back from two goals down to win the game 3-2 in the second half, courtesy of an Edinson Cavani masterclass from the bench.
Michael Owen says that this incident gives Solskjaer the perfect opportunity to replace de Gea with Henderson as the club’s starting goalkeeper.
“If you are thinking about changing the goalkeeper, this is the time. I don’t think Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants confrontation, I don’t think he wants to drop him. But in this situation, all of a sudden, ‘hey, you went off injured and he has done nothing wrong’. It is the perfect opportunity. If he had any of those thoughts over the last few months when mistakes were made, now is your time.”
Dean Henderson spent two years away on loan at Sheffield United before returning to Manchester United this summer. The English keeper has conceded just 2 goals in his 314 minutes of first-team football this season.
The English goalkeeper has been linked with a loan move away from Old Trafford in January in order to secure his place in the England national team’s starting XI before the 2020 UEFA Euros next summer.
