David De Gea will ‘have to battle’ to keep Manchester United place as Dean Henderson impresses

Henderson produced a brilliant save to deny Brighton’s Leandro Trossard in the Carabao Cup

(Getty Images)

Andy Cole and Darren Fletcher both highlighted Manchester United goalkeeper Dean Henderson for praise after the club's 3-0 victory over Brighton in the Carabao Cup, and claimed David De Gea will "have to battle" to keep the No 1 jersey.

Henderson produced an outstanding reflex save to deny Leandro Trossard at the Amex Stadium as he kept his second consecutive clean sheet in the United goal.

The goalkeeper, who spent last season on loan at Sheffield United before signing a new long-term contract with Manchester United, has impressed since and is hoping to usurp De Gea and secure his place in Gareth Southgate's England squad.

Speaking of Henderson's performance, Cole told Sky Sports: "Very good again. We have spoken about it previously, playing in goal for Manchester United is not easy, especially when United are playing well because you’re not really called upon but when he has been called upon this evening, he has made two real good saves.

"He has definitely impressed me when he has been given the opportunity in goal."

Dean Henderson has kept to clean sheets for United (Getty)

Former United midfielder Darren Fletcher concurred, saying: "This is a fantastic save, and this is at 1-0. It keeps them right in the game, Trossard thinks he has scored there.

"He stays up big, gets a strong hand to it, puts it past the post. He did the exact same thing against Luton.

"United were struggling a little bit and Luton had a header at the back post and he made a fantastic save.

"We spoke then as well, you expect to make saves at Sheffield United with all due respect but at Manchester United, he’s made two great saves tonight, and he has been there and he has been counted upon.

"That could have easily been 1-1, confidence goes down, Brighton come back into the game. But off the back of that, the rest of the team say we’ve got away with one there and then they go on and win 3-0 and it’s a comfortable victory."

Cole added that, if De Gea endured another shaky season, Henderson will "definitely get his opportunity" in the Premier League this season.

"I think De Gea is in a little bit of credit from his previous seasons at Manchester United," he said. "I think it is more what he doesn’t do. If he has a bit of a season like he did last season, I think Henderson will definitely get his opportunity.

"Henderson has proven to everyone that he is a very good goalkeeper, and De Gea is going to have a battle on to stay as No 1 for Manchester United."