Before the start of the season, Dean Henderson explained why he had to move on loan to Nottingham Forest from Manchester United. “I turned so many good loans down last summer for that reason [being promised the No.1 spot], and they wouldn’t let me go,” Henderson revealed to talkSPORT. “It was frustrating. To sit there and waste 12 months is criminal really, at my age. I was fuming.

Three games into his spell with Forest and it is proving the right move.

Having appeared increasingly likely to take over as United’s first-choice goalkeeper last season, Henderson contracted Covid, lost his spot and had to watch on as David De Gea held on to the No1 shirt. Henderson’s miserly two appearances for United last term came in the FA Cup and a Champions League dead-rubber.

The 25-year-old craved, and felt he deserved, regular Premier League game-time. Forest are providing that and Henderson is grabbing the chance with typically assured hands. Keeping goal behind a team that has changed markedly since winning promotion back to the top-flight in May, after a 23-year absence, requires Henderson’s composure.

Forest have signed 16 new players this summer, and are understandably a work in progress, but the arrival of Henderson is arguably their most important. He is an immediate upgrade on Brice Samba, the former Forest ‘keeper who left for Lens in Ligue 1 earlier in the transfer window.

Given the uprooting of much of Forest’s squad, there is little surprise that they have conceded more shots per game (20.3) than any other team in the league so far this campaign. Being slightly over-exposed, however, has only raised Henderson’s game.

He has made considerably more saves (18) than any other ‘keeper in the division and touched the ball more than his opposing number in each of the three matches so far, which also highlights Forest’s desire to use Henderson as a starting point for attacks.

Forest have started the season rather promisingly, taking four points from a possible nine and conceding just three goals. Henderson has won the man of the match award in Forest’s last two games — their 1-1 draw at Everton on Saturday and their 1-0 win over West Ham United the week before in which he saved a penalty.

Henderson’s strong start to life in the Midlands has been in contrast to De Gea’s form back at United, who have shipped seven goals, and the Spaniard’s performances have been under intense scrutiny.

Henderson demonstrated when on loan at Sheffield United during the 2018/19 season that he is an able No1 for a Premier League team and the subsequent two campaigns have been seen as somewhat of a waste for the promising ‘keeper. However, rather than Henderson keeping an eye on United, he is aiming to repay the faith placed in him by Steve Cooper and Forest.

World Cup will have been in Henderson's thinking

A player confident in his ability, it is often Henderson’s Cumbrian voice that is heard across the pitches at Forest’s Wilford Lane training ground despite being one of the newcomers. For a footballer with high expectations, trying to earn a place in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the Qatar World Cup was also a reason for moving to Forest.

Henderson was forced to pull out of the England squad for Euro 2020 and the competition for Jordan Pickford’s spot as No1 is intense. Aaron Ramsdale has started the season confidently with high-fliers Arsenal while Nick Pope’s displays have proved vital for Newcastle United.

Everton’s form must be a worry for Pickford, who admittedly has never let England down during Southgate’s tenure. Nevertheless, the fact that Henderson, Pope and Ramsdale have begun the campaign strongly puts the onus on Southgate.

Henderson’s credentials will be put to the test on Sunday afternoon when Forest welcome Tottenham Hotspur, and England captain Harry Kane, to the City Ground. Antonio Conte’s team have notched up seven goals already, with Kane scoring two that have earned Spurs four of their seven points so far.

The sharp runs and swift, mechanical attacks conducted through Kane, Heung-min Son and Dejan Kulusevski will offer Forest’s new-look defence a stern examination. However, they will have to get past the confident Henderson too.

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