DEAN HENDERSON is set to start the next five games for Manchester United with David De Gea out for a month due to personal reasons.
The Red Devils shot-stopper was omitted from the matchday squad that drew 0-0 against Crystal Palace on Wednesday due to a private matter.
Manchester United goalkeeper Dean Henderson is set for a run of games in David De Gea’s absenceCredit: Rex Features
De Gea may not feature for the Red Devils again this month due to personal reasonsCredit: Getty – Contributor
Commenting on the ex-Atletico Madrid ace after the clash at Selhurst Park, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said: “That’s a private matter. [His return] will take the time it takes.”
According to the Manchester Evening News, Henderson was told prior to the fixture in South London to prepare for potentially starting the next six games.
They claim that De Gea may not be in action for the rest of the month, meaning Henderson could be between the sticks for crucial games.
The Daily Mail have since stated that De Gea’s absence is due to him being given time off to be with his wife Edurne who is expecting their first child.
They have reported that De Gea is in Spain to be with his family after Solskjaer allowed him to go, despite the goalkeeper willing to play.
His partner Edurne – a famous Spanish pop star – labelled Manchester as ‘uglier than the back of a fridge’ in 2016.
Henderson is now likely to start against rivals Manchester City on Sunday, before lining up against AC Milan in the Europa League Round of 16 first leg.
He then could be named in the starting XI in the Premier League match against West Ham, before United’s second leg tie against Milan.
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Finishing off the month, the former Sheffield United loanee could be involved in the FA Cup quarter-final against Leicester before the international break.
Henderson has appeared in 14 games in all competitions this campaign for United – keeping nine clean sheets.
And club legend Gary Neville believes De Gea could find himself out of the team to make way for Henderson.
Asked by a fan whether he thinks the Spaniard’s time is up at Old Trafford, Neville remarked: “A big decision is coming soon.”
Solskjaer was full of praise for Henderson as he earned United a point against Palace after denying Patrick van Aanholt late on.
He said: “I thank him for one point and not zero.”
Before adding: “Dean is ready if he’s called upon, you saw that. He kept his concentration.
“I think maybe it would have been called offside [against Van Aanholt] but at the moment I thought that Dean saved us a point because it looked like that was a deciding moment and that was probably the biggest chance of the game, apart from Marcus [Rashford] in the first-half.”
Take a look back at Crystal Palace ‘s draw with Man Utd in the Premier League
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
