Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believes Sheffield United keeper Dean Henderson is destined to become a future England and Man Utd No 1
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says David De Gea is still the best goalkeeper in the world - although the Manchester United manager believes Dean Henderson, on-loan at Sheffield United, is destined to become first choice for both club and country.
Having been the club's outstanding player in the difficult seasons that followed Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement, questions have recently grown over the 29-year-old Spaniard's role between the posts.
De Gea has had some difficult moments during the past year or so and was under the spotlight again when Manchester United returned to action on Friday, having failed to stop Steven Bergwijn's shot in the 1-1 draw at Tottenham Hotspur.
Former captain Roy Keane eviscerated the Spain international after the error, calling him the "most overrated goalkeeper I've seen in a long, long time" - a stance Solskjaer vehermently disagrees with.
"David is the best goalkeeper in the world," the Norwegian said of De Gea, who last September signed a contract until at least 2023.
"He's conceded two goals in the last seven game he's played for us. There's two games against City, Chelsea, of course Tottenham, Everton. Two goals in seven games, we've gone on a run not conceding goals.
"The Everton one is a freak one, maybe. This one, he cannot save it.
"He makes great saves, he wins games for us and I still think he's the best goalkeeper in the world.
"David's working really hard. He's not making errors that you see time and time again. He's been consistently working hard in training and I'm very pleased with his work."
De Gea will feature again tomorrow evening, when United make the trip to the north west without their first-choice goalkeeper as Henderson is unable to face his parent club.
The 23-year-old has shone during his ltwo spells at Bramall Lane, helping United gain promotion from the Championship last season and into contention for a European place this term. Simon Moore is expected to deputise for Henderson, with Michael Verrips stepping-up to the substitutes' bench.
"It's a different job to be playing for Sheffield United and for Man United," Solskjaer said of Henderson, who was set to named in England's Euro 2020 squad before the tournament was postponed because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
"There's different, how do you say - he's got different roles.
"For me, the two years he's had have been fantastic for his development. He's had to play with men, play against men, he's played in the Championship.
"He's played now behind a team that's played fantastic football and exciting football and, as the stats show, he's proven worthy of quite a few points at this stage.
"He's learning all the time. He's a passionate keeper that wants to be the best so he's developing, he's got good coaching there.
"I think one day he'll be England number one and Man United number one and it's up to him to keep developing and improving as he has been doing."