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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Matthew Cooper

Paul Scholes believes Ole Gunnar Solskjaer found answer to season-long question in AC Milan win

Manchester United legend Paul Scholes believes Dean Henderson has overtaken David de Gea as the club's first choice goalkeeper.

Henderson has been afforded a run of games in recent weeks, with De Gea on paternity leave after the birth of his first child.

The 24-year-old has started United's last five games in all competitions and he has kept four clean sheets.

Henderson made several saves in the 1-0 win over AC Milan in the Europa League on Thursday, including an important reflex save to deny Zlatan Ibrahimovic late on.

Scholes has been impressed by Henderson and believes he deserves to keep his place now that De Gea is back.

Speaking on BT Sport, Scholes said: "I think it's Henderson now. I think he's taken over. I thought David had been lucky after the Everton game to keep his place.

"He made a couple of mistakes where he could've done better. Not glaringly obvious mistakes, but I just feel a bit more confident with Henderson there. It seems a little bit more relaxed.

"I don't want to have a go at David, David has been an amazing keeper for United, he's been brilliant and he still will be if Dean doesn't take his chance.

"I just think the time has come to give him a run of games in the team and see how he does. He's been picked in the England squad, and I think he possibly should be the No.1 for England as well if he can maintain this form.

Henderson kept a fourth clean sheet in his last five games against AC Milan on Thursday (Getty Images)

"He made a mistake in the first game, we know that, but he's shown great character to come back. Again, he's been really calm tonight, done everything he needed to do and just been quite safe."

Speaking after the game, United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer noted that the important save Henderson made to deny Ibrahimovic was similar to goal he conceded against Milan in the first leg.

"It's a save he should have made last week," Solskjaer said. "Very similar. Very pleased for him, of course. Great save.

Speaking on BT Sport, former United midfielder Owen Hargreaves praised Henderson for bouncing back after his error in the first leg, saying: "You only really know players, whether it's goalkeepers or outfield players, when they make a mistake and he made a mistake.

"He'd be the first one to say he should've saved that one the other day, so for Dean to bounce back the way he did, make a big save and get United into the next round, he deserves a ton of praise.

"I think it's going to be hard to get him out. As good as David's been for United, I think Ole's given him a run of games and you'd have to say outside of the first mistake, he's produced and he’s a really confident guy and very vocal.

"I think he's going to be England's No.1, but I think David's body of work over a number of years, it's hard to walk away from.

"I think Ole is going to try and be loyal, but if Dean is playing better, he's given him a chance, he's playing well and it's going to be hard to drop him now."

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