Roy Hodgson is set to hand Dean Henderson his Crystal Palace debut against Manchester United in the Carabao Cup tonight.
That is according to the Evening Standard.
So, what is the latest on Dean Henderson at Crystal Palace? Let’s take a look…
What’s the story?
Well, the England international spent 12 years at Old Trafford from 2011 to 2023 after emerging from the academy.
Now – in a twist of irony – Henderson is set to make his Crystal Palace debut against the side he just left in a £20m deal on transfer deadline day.
The Evening Standard believe Hodgson is set to drop Sam Johnstone for the trip to Old Trafford in order to give his new signing a chance in the first-team.
That is despite the fact Crystal Palace’s current No.1 only just delivered an outstanding performance in the 0-0 draw against Fulham on Saturday, earning a place in the WhoScored Team of the Week as a result.
Dean Henderson will hope Crystal Palace beat Manchester United – for more reasons than one
It goes without saying that Henderson would like to win tonight, although a victory would have deeper meaning for the 26-year-old than merely a place in the Carabao Cup Fourth Round.
The Whitehaven-born glovesman is likely to be Hodgson’s No.1 in the domestic cup competitions, as has become the norm for No.2 options across a number of Premier League squads.
Stefan Ortega – for example – even started Manchester City’s FA Cup final win over Manchester United last season ahead of Ederson.
Patrick Vieira also made Jack Butland his No.1 in domestic cup competitions, with the England international chosen ahead of Vicente Guaita for our 2-0 defeat to Chelsea in the FA Cup Semi-Final back in April 2022.
Therefore, Henderson’s chances of playing time hinge on Crystal Palace progressing in the Carabao Cup, unless Johnstone suffers a serious injury.
Hopefully, Hodgson can get us over the line and into the Fourth Round of the Carabao Cup – a competition we have struggled to make progress in since returning to the Premier League back in 2013.
