Man Utd keeper Dean Henderson extends Sheffield United loan and will stay until the end of the season

SHEFFIELD UNITED have extended their loan for Dean Henderson until the end of the season. The goalkeeper, on loan from Manchester United, was originally contracted to stay at Bramall Lane until June 30 but will now stay until the Blades season is complete. Sheffield United and Man Utd have been in prolonged discussions in recent […]

SHEFFIELD UNITED have extended their loan for Dean Henderson until the end of the season.

The goalkeeper, on loan from Manchester United, was originally contracted to stay at Bramall Lane until June 30 but will now stay until the Blades season is complete.

Sheffield United and Man Utd have been in prolonged discussions in recent weeks over Henderson’s immediate future.

With David De Gea’s form again a topic of huge discussion, there had been calls from some fans and pundits for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to turn to the 23-year-0ld.

But Chris Wilder will be delighted to keep the goalkeeper, who also helped the club get promoted last season.

Henderson has been in fine form this season, keeping 11 clean sheets – only Nick Pope and Alisson have kept more.

Sheffield United also signed Phil Jagielka, Jack Rodwell, Kieron Freeman and Leon Clarke, meaning they are also available for selection until the end of the season.

However, Mo Besic has returned to Everton, with the club deciding not to extend his loan, and Panos Retsos has returned to Bayer Leverkusen.

The Blades decide not to take up an option to buy the Greek defender, who is yet to feature in the Premier League this season.

It has not been a happy return to football for Henderson and the Blades.

Before lockdown, Chris Wilder’s men were having a fantastic season, chasing a Champions League spot and in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

However, since football returned two weeks ago, United have failed to win any of their four matches.

They drew with Aston Villa – in a game in which goal-line technology robbed them of three points – before successive 3-0 defeats to Newcastle and then Manchester United.

On Sunday, they crashed out of the FA Cup at home to Arsenal in a 2-1 defeat.

Wilder was far from impressed with the Arsenal players, especially at the manner in which a penalty was won.

Wilder said: “You don’t need to give an invitation for those players to go over. Maybe it’s natural for them to go over.

“It’s not normal for me or my players. But he has felt contact, gone down and given the referee a decision to make.

“If Chris Basham had been more patient, he could have stayed on his feet.”