Hend game for 'keeper touted as United No.1

YOU can hardly blame Dean Henderson parallel for ruing his luck. In a universe, Manchester United allow him to join Ajax on loan, he trains and plays under Erik ten Hag for five months, Ten Hag is chosen as the next permanent United manager and he installs Henderson as the No.1.

- SAMUEL LUCKHURST

With Ten Hag as his actual manager at United, Henderson's chances of attaining No.1 status have gradually receded. Now they are all but over.

Ajax twice approached United about borrowing Henderson while Ten Hag was in charge. Edwin van der Sar, then the Ajax chief executive, was a vocal admirer of Henderson and first touched base at the start of the 2020-21 season.

Henderson's representatives were sounded out by Ajax again prior to the January 2022 transfer window, when Andre Onana was serving a nine-month doping suspension and running down his contract. Eighteen months on, Onana is coming and Henderson is going at United.

After Ajax was a no-go, United knocked back enquiries from Newcastle and Watford to sign Henderson on loan. Henderson only played once more under Ralf Rangnick - in the first game of February - and felt so antagonised he skipped the first training sessions under Ten Hag.

Newcastle came calling again for Henderson but lost their nerve dealing with United for a second time, having attempted to recruit Jesse Lingard earlier in the year. Burnley were relegated and Nick Pope was available on a permanent basis, so Newcastle plumped for Pope.

Henderson's exit route remains Nottingham Forest, hardly certainties to stay at the top of the pyramid beyond a second season.

Once a budding United and England No.1, Henderson is dependent on injury to Pope, Jordan Pickford or Aaron Ramsdale to earn a recall to Gareth Southgate's squad.