Solskjaer fires a Henderson warning to De Gea

The Manchester United goalkeeper has struggled for form and faces the very real threat of dropping down the pecking order.

Only ‘performances and what you give to the team’ count, says Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who insists David de Gea’s past glories won’t guarantee his place in goal.

The Spanish goalkeeper has come under increased scrutiny recently following a barren run of form. He was also at fault for two goals in Manchester United’s 3-3 draw with Everton last weekend; handing the team a significant blow in their Premier League title hopes.

And with a young and promising shot-stopper in Dean Henderson waiting in the wings, there have been calls for Solskjaer to drop De Gea.

“It’s not about who has got the most trophies,” said the Red Devils boss as quoted on the Mirror. “I’m in a very fortunate position to have the goalkeeper department that I have – and it was a conscious decision to bring Dean [Henderson] back to have real competition.”

On Henderson, who returned to Old Trafford in the summer after an impressive spell on loan at Sheffield United, Solskjaer added: “Dean has made it harder and harder for me, of course, to leave him out because whenever he plays he does really well.

“It’s about what you give to the team, here and now – whether you’re a left-back, right-back, on the left-wing or right-wing.

“I think the whole squad knows they have to perform to be in the team.

“We have, I would say, at least two players in every position who would feel ‘I am a first choice’. The keeper position is no different from the right-back, left-back, or center-forward position.

“It’s about your performances and what you give to the team.”

United travel to West Brom on Sunday afternoon for their next Premier League match.