Former Manchester United goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak has called on the club to "do everything" to keep both of their goalkeepers happy as they prepare to welcome Erik ten Hag as manager.
Dean Henderson has been on the fringes this season, only playing in United's exits from the two domestic cups and their Champions League dead rubber against Young Boys in December.
However, after being linked with a move away in January, the England international made clear his desire to stay and fight for his place.
With Ten Hag due to take over in the dugout ahead of the new Premier League season, Henderson may end up with a fresh chance to challenge David de Gea for regular football. However, Kuszczak - who spent several years predominantly as a backup under Sir Alex Ferguson - suggests the new boss needs to take a leaf out of the United legend's book.
"Obviously for Dean this is difficult," says Kuszczak, speaking exclusively to Mirror Football courtesy of bet365.
"He proved himself last season, the manager Ole trusted him and gave him games, and he did very well, but if you've got two keepers like Dean and David, who are both prepared to play the whole season long, it's always going to be a choice of the manager who's going to get the first chance.
"I've been in a similar situation where Edwin (van der Sar) got injured and I got a longer spell. I felt so comfortable and started to build confidence and match fitness, and then Edwin came and he had the right to be the number one because he'd started the season [there].
"If we lose [Henderson], we need to replace him and bring in another goalkeeper who is going to be a number one goalkeeper, because I think Manchester United have two number one goalkeepers. It's going to be very difficult because obviously everyone wants to play, and I don't know what the new manager is going to do"
Should Dean Henderson leave Man Utd this summer? Have your say in the comments section
Henderson played 26 times in the 2020-21 season, including big league games against the likes of Liverpool and Tottenham in the Premier League and AC Milan in the Europa League. Similarly, Kuszczak recognises the significance of Ferguson not just giving him minutes, but doing so in games that mattered.
"There's always going to be a question," the Polish international adds. "I've been there, I've questioned myself as well, yes I'm in a fantastic club and winning trophies but I'm not playing enough.
"You have to make this decision - you give 100% when you're there, whether you play or not. Many times I played the games which were very important - I was always prepared, I 100% did what I could to be ready for the manager when he needed me and I always served him well.
"That's why I think Ferguson had comfort with me, because he knew if he needed me he could trust me and I was not going to disappoint him. That's why the team is not 11 players, it's 23, 24 players."
Henderson has been linked with a loan move away on more than one occasion, having thrived in a similar situation at Sheffield United during the 2019-20 season, but the arrival of Ten Hag could change things for him and De Gea. The Ajax boss has used three goalkeepers in the Eredivisie this season, with Remko Pasveer starting out as first choice, Andre Onana earning league and Champions League minutes, and Maarten Stekelenburg starting the KNVB Cup final.
Kuszczak played 61 times for United across his six-year stint with the club, with Van der Sar firmly first choice across the period. However, the Pole still got a chance to impress in games which had something riding on them.
He was between the sticks at Ewood Park in 2011 as United made sure of their 19th Premier League title with a draw at Blackburn, and also started at Wembley when Ferguson's team beat Aston Villa to lift the League Cup in 2010. There were also occasions where he had to watch on from the bench - the 2008 Champions League final chief among them - and he has compared his own situation to that of Henderson.
"[De Gea had bad spells last season and that's where maybe Dean got the chance, but now he's doing well and you're not going to change the goalkeeper," Kuszczak said. "I asked Ferguson many times "boss, please, play me" - I got some games but he had his team built.
"My situation was different because we'd been playing very well at the time, we won trophies, we were the leading team in Europe, and the manager built his core and he didn't want to change. But even then he gave me some games because he wanted to use all of his players. I always had this little feeling that maybe I didn't play enough in my career as I wished, but... the bigger picture was to be a part of a massive team and win trophies."
