Loan system working with Dean Henderson the proof

United’s use of the loan system has been ideal for the development of the talented goalkeeper, who has embraced each challenge with enthusiasm and professionalism and become a shining example to the club’s other youngsters about to make their way in senior football.

Most recently of course, he was playing in the Premier League for Sheffield United and the Reds’ goalkeeping coach Richard Hartis was among the staff who monitored him there. 

“Yeah I have been to see Dean play a few times,” Hartis told us, in an interview midway through last season.

“I am really, really pleased with how Dean is progressing. It is a big jump to go from the Championship to the Premier League, but he has shown at Sheffield United that he can cope with that level of football. He is an exciting prospect for us, moving forward as a club, so we are delighted to have him in our goalkeeping pool.”

A number of our Under-23 players are embarking on temporary transfers in 2020/21 in order to further their education, including another stopper in Matej Kovar, who has linked up with Swindon Town.

Academy player performance manager Les Parry looks after those who head out and he spoke glowingly about Henderson last season, telling us: “As I’ve said when we’ve spoken before, the good thing about Deano is this was planned. If you could put a loan strategy up for a player that worked, this would be it because he wanted non-league experience [at Stockport] and then a year in League Two with Grimsby. He wanted a year in League One with Shrewsbury and then a year in the Championship with Sheffield United.