Sheffield United have exceeded all expectations this season in the Premier League and currently occupy seventh place in the table, just four points off Chelsea in fourth. It has been a miraculous effort from Chris Wilders side to have already earned the fable 40 points with ten matches of the season remaining. The Blades will be gazing up the table as the season reaches its conclusion, as opposed to nervously beneath them, unlike the other two newly-promoted sides. The foundation of Sheffield United’s success has been built upon their robust defence and failing that, their goalkeeping colossus Dean Henderson.
On loan from Manchester United, in his first Premier League season Henderson, valued £13.5m (Transfermarkt), has put himself in the spotlight making it impossible for his parent club to ignore his cause. Meanwhile, the Red Devil’s David De Gea has endured a mixed season by his own lofty standards. The Spaniard and five-time PFA Team of the Season goalkeeper may well be under threat when Henderson returns.
Only Nick Pope, 11, and Alisson, 10, have kept more clean sheets than the Sheffield United goalkeeper’s nine in the Premier League this term. Henderson has been outstanding between the sticks in his debut top-flight campaign, and his efforts have meant only Liverpool, 17, have conceded fewer goals than Sheffield United’s 25.
Meanwhile, De Gea has made more errors in the past two seasons, seven, than the previous seven years of his Manchester United career, six. While, this term alone the Spanish International has made three errors leading to goals, though Henderson has a fraction of that total, one, in two fewer appearances, 26. He, like the rest of his squad, have surpassed expectations to lead the way defensively in the Premier League.
Aside from pure performances, one thing blocking Henderson’s route to the Old Trafford sticks when he returns is De Gea’s £117m six-year contract with Manchester United. He is the world’s highest-paid goalkeeper and an experienced figure in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s dressing room. However, based on this seasons performances Henderson has outgrown him and could be vying for his place next term.
