The stage is set for Sheffield United goalkeeper Dean Henderson to cement an England place

Dean Henderson could not have picked a better moment to produce, what in one sense was, the perfect goalkeeping display.
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And as he prepares for Sheffield United’s visit to Arsenal this weekend, the on-loan youngster knows a repeat performance will see him take another important step towards consolidating a place in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the forthcoming Euro 2020 Championships.

Although the opportunity has arisen in unfortunate circumstances - Aston Villa’s Tom Heaton, Henderson’s international colleague, recently suffered a season-ending injury - the 22-year-old knows a place is up for grabs in Southgate’s team for the tournament, which begins when Turkey face Italy at Rome’s Olympic Stadium on June 12.

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Four days ago, the Three Lions chief was watching from the stands when Henderson, after a relatively low key evening, acrobatically denied Manuel Lanzini towards the end of United’s victory over West Ham. It was a reminder that not only is he capable of making crucial saves at crucial moments, but that Henderson’s powers-of-concentration are also improving month by month.

Dean Henderson and Lys Mousset of Sheffield United celebrate the win over West Ham: James Wilson/SportimageDean Henderson and Lys Mousset of Sheffield United celebrate the win over West Ham: James Wilson/Sportimage
Dean Henderson and Lys Mousset of Sheffield United celebrate the win over West Ham: James Wilson/Sportimage

“That’s what Dean does,” Chris Wilder, the United manager, said. “And that’s what he’s got to keep on doing if he wants to achieve what he hopes to in the game.

“You can never rest on your laurels. You’ve got to keep striving to get better and proving yourself every single time you step out on the pitch.”

United finished the latest round of Premier League fixtures in sixth after beating David Moyes’ side. Oli McBurnie scored the only goal of the game early in the second-half, before a combination of Henderson’s reactions and VAR kept the Londoners at bay; Robert Snodgrass seeing a late ‘equaliser’ ruled-out by the video assistant referee.

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It was Henderson’s eighth clean sheet of the campaign so far; a figure only matched by Leicester City’s Kasper Schmeichel. Henderson, who is scheduled to return to Manchester United before the Euro’s begin, kept 21 as United gained promotion from the Championship last term.

Barring injury or a dramatic downturn in form, Henderson looks set to join Jordan Pickford and Nick Pope at the tournament, by which time his future at Old Trafford should be decided.

Having spent the majority of his career there out on loan, Henderson has indicated he will seek a permanent move elsewhere unless he is given the chance to succeed David de Gea. That has placed United on alert and although Henderson is known to be keen on the idea of joining them permanently, his soaring value in the transfer market could, unless owner HRH Prince Abdullah bin Musa’ad bin Abdulaziz Al Saud intervenes, put him beyond Wilder’s reach.