Dean Henderson and Axel Tuanzebe were Man United youth teammates but only one of them has played for the first-team so far.
Axel Tuanzebe says Manchester United’s reputation for promoting youth could give Dean Henderson an opportunity to become the club’s next No.1 goalkeeper.
Henderson, 23, has spent the last two seasons on loan with Sheffield United and been tipped for selection in the Premier League Team of the Year, should the current season resume. Henderson is joint-second for most clean sheets in the league and received his first England call-up in October.
United have rewarded Henderson with new contracts following his League One and Championship loans with Shrewsbury Town and Sheffield United in the last two summers, but David de Gea inked a new four-year deal in September and has remained first choice despite an unsteady year. Henderson has still never played for the United first-team.
Tuanzebe captained the Under-18 team Henderson was in goal for in 2014-15 and believes United’s willingness to give youth a chance could continue with Henderson.
“I think that’s down to the culture of the club. At other teams there are a lot of talented players that don’t quite make it and that’s not the culture of their club,” Tuanzebe told the MEN.
“We’re fortunate to have such a club that promotes youth and wants their youth to be big players and big stars in the first-team. Obviously we have players with the talent to do so, which we’ve witnessed many times this season. It’s a combination of the two which breed a career.
“Dean’s a big character and I’m sure when he comes back he’ll just slot right back in and continue from where he left off. He’s doing very well at Sheffield United and it just shows, coming from the academy, he’s demonstrating what he’s learnt and practising it week in, week out.”