Statistics only reveal half of what makes Sheffield United's Dean Henderson so great

The statistics speak for themselves; with 10 clean sheets to his name before the Premier League season was suspended due to coronavirus, Dean Henderson is the competition’s best young English goalkeeper.
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Gareth Southgate will decide if he is the best full stop when the Three Lions return to action, with the 23-year-old now being touted as a shoe-in to eventually replace Jordan Pickford between the posts.

Sheffield United already believe they know the answer to that question, given the consistent quality of his work since arriving at Bramall Lane on loan.

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But curiously, it is Henderson’s mistakes - or rather his response to them - which truly reveal why he appears destined to reach the pinnacle of his profession. Not the impressive figures he has returned in areas such as shot-stopping, average goals conceded and projected performance indicators.

Vladimir Nabokov, the Russian author, portrayed the goalkeeper as “the lone eagle”, given the solitary nature of their art. The very last line of defence, Henderson and his colleagues walk the tightrope between success and failure without the benefit of knowing they have a safety net.

Errors usually result in a goal for opposition. That presents a unique set of psychological challenges.

Studying how Henderson copes with these not only explain why United are desperate to retain his services for the remainder of the campaign as they chase a place in Europe, but also the growing number of calls for him to succeed David de Gea at his parent club Manchester United next term.

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Henderson has made two high profile slip-ups for Chris Wilder’s team. And on both occasions - against Liverpool in September and when Leeds visited South Yorkshire for a Championship fixture nine months earlier - he has bounced back in convincing fashion.

Sheffield United were mounting a serious challenge for European football when the season was suspended due to coronavirus: Simon Bellis/SportimageSheffield United were mounting a serious challenge for European football when the season was suspended due to coronavirus: Simon Bellis/Sportimage
Sheffield United were mounting a serious challenge for European football when the season was suspended due to coronavirus: Simon Bellis/Sportimage

After presenting Jurgen Klopp’s side with a win when Georginio Wijnaldum’s shot squirmed through his body, Henderson conceded only once in United’s next three outings. Having made a dreadful hash of a John Egan backpass during a hard-fought Yorkshire derby the season before, he also produced another shut-out when United returned to action at Reading seven days later.

"Dean is a big boy," Wilder said at the time. "He's got broad enough shoulders and self-belief so I'm not worried about him."

More forensic analysis of Henderson’s contribution to United’s climb to seventh in the table - only five points behind fourth-placed Chelsea, having played a match less than the Londoners - reveals equally impressive numbers.

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Although he is predicted to concede more goals than all but one - Kepa Arrizabalaga - of his counterparts at the division’s other leading seven clubs, which is no surprise given rapid climb through the divisions, his average across the course of the season so far are better than Chelsea’s Spain international, Ederson of Manchester City, Leicester City’s Kasper Schmeichel, Wolves’ Rui Patricio and - intriguingly, de Gea.

Dean Henderson is regarded as England's best young goalkeeper - and the very best by some: Nigel Roddis/Getty ImagesDean Henderson is regarded as England's best young goalkeeper - and the very best by some: Nigel Roddis/Getty Images
Dean Henderson is regarded as England's best young goalkeeper - and the very best by some: Nigel Roddis/Getty Images

Drilling deeper into the figures highlights another fascinating trend: Henderson actually seems to perform better away from home, when the pressure and scrutiny is greater, than at Bramall Lane.

Wilder has spoken in the past about Henderson’s habit of producing “big saves at big moments”; something he demonstrated during United’s final game before the campaign was mothballed, producing a superb double stop to deny Norwich City an equaliser.

But the fact Henderson makes fewer reflex saves than four of the aforementioned goalkeepers is testimony to not only United’s defence organisation but his ability to marshal those in front of him. Again, Henderson performs better on the road in this particular area than he does in South Yorkshire.

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Clearly, he is someone who possesses superb powers of concentration and appreciates his role is about more than simply catching the eye with acrobatic blocks.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the manager of Manchester United: Laurence Griffiths/Getty ImagesOle Gunnar Solskjaer, the manager of Manchester United: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the manager of Manchester United: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

George Baldock, the United wing-back, alluded to this last month when, during a series of video interviews with the region’s media, he was asked to describe the secrets behind his club’s defensive success.

“It’s not about individuals,” he said. “It’s because we all work as a group; every single one of us in the back three, the back five or whatever you want to call it. Actually, make that a six, because Deano’s in there too.”

Chris Basham, one of United’s two overlapping centre-halves, echoed this during a conversation about the mental challenges PL attackers pose.

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“You can’t switch off for a second,” he admitted. “Because if you do, and you get caught out of position, then ‘bang’, they’re gone, and you’re not recovering because they’re so quick.

“So the key is to be in the right area in the first place.”

Henderson, who used to play in an outfield position before donning the gloves, helps United’s rearguard make the right adjustments by relaying constant updates about the movement of their opponents.

Sheffield United goalkeeper Dean Henderson celebrates another victory for his team in the Premier League: Anthony Devlin/PA Wire.Sheffield United goalkeeper Dean Henderson celebrates another victory for his team in the Premier League: Anthony Devlin/PA Wire.
Sheffield United goalkeeper Dean Henderson celebrates another victory for his team in the Premier League: Anthony Devlin/PA Wire.

With ‘Project Restart’ set to be implemented next month, United are awaiting official confirmation that Manchester United will allow Henderson to remain in situ beyond May 30, when his loan is scheduled to expire.

Losing him would represent a major blow to their chances of securing entry to either the Champions League or the Europa League next term.

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The statistics highlight what makes Henderson such an important member of Wilder’s squad and, if his career trajectory continues on the same path, England’s new number one.

But the empirical evidence, his presence and his aura, is even more compelling.

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