80
(^) Daily Mail, Tuesday, March 3, 2020
EXCLUSIVE
by CHRIS
WHEELER
Football
dE g Ea bLUndERS
ConCERn UnItEd
FODEN FOR ENGLAND
d
AVID De GeA’s position
as Manchester United’s
un d i s p u t e d N o 1 c o u l d
come under scrutiny for
the first time this summer.
De Gea has been an automatic starter
in goal for United since moving to Old
Trafford from Atletico Madrid in 2011 —
racking up 393 appearances.
But a series of errors, culminating in
sunday’s blunder at everton that gifted
Dominic Calvert-Lewin a goal in the 1-1
draw, have raised questions about the
2 9-year-old spaniard.
Although Ole Gunnar solskjaer hailed
De Gea as the best goalkeeper in the
world when it was pointed out his mistakes
had cost United seven goals since the
start of last season, there are concerns at
the club over his levels of performance
and concentration.
solskjaer kept faith in De Gea during a
difficult spell a year ago and still hopes the
keeper can play his way back into form. If
the mistakes continue, however, the
manager could face a difficult decision in
the summer.
United will assess their goalkeeping
situation over the next few months and are
due to hold talks with Dean Henderson’s
representatives before the end of March.
Henderson has emerged as one of the
best goalkeepers in the Premier League
while on loan from Old Trafford to
sheffield United this season — helping
the promoted club into contention for a
european place.
england Under 21 star Henderson, who
may well be given an improved contract by
United to ward off interest from clubs
around europe, has ambitions to be first
choice at Old Trafford and is now seen as a
genuine threat to De Gea.
The 22-year-old is likely to be sent out on
loan for a third season, possibly at sheffield
United again, unless De Gea’s situation
changes. The spaniard’s place has been
unchallenged during his nine-year career
at United.
Current No 2 sergio Romero is set to play
in Thursday’s FA Cup tie at Derby, but the
A r g e n t i n e i s h a p p y w i t h h i s r o l e ,
while 37-year-old Lee Grant is out following
wrist surgery and Joel Pereira is on loan
at Hearts.
If United ever decide to sell De Gea, one
major hurdle would be the long-term deal
paying him £375,000 a week that he signed
in september. That limits the number of
clubs who could afford him.
england manager Gareth southgate is
keen to hand Henderson his international
debut before euro 2020.
southgate wants to give the keeper, who
is likely to be third choice behind Jordan
Pickford and Nick Pope, experience
behind england’s back line before the
european Championship.
GAReTH sOUTHGATe is giving
serious consideration to handing
Phil Foden a first england call-up
this month.
The teenager shone in front of
england assistant steve Holland
at Wembley as Manchester City
won the Carabao Cup for a third
straight year on sunday, being
named man of the match.
southgate, who opted to watch
everton’s 1-1 draw with
Manchester United instead, has
been considering including Foden
for some time. A lack of regular
starts for City has hampered
Foden’s chances but england may
find it hard to ignore their Under
21 star’s encouraging progression.
The Three Lions face Italy and
Denmark in home friendlies over
the next international break and
Foden could yet become a
wildcard option for the european
Championship.
‘I want to be there obviously but
it’s very difficult with the players
we have,’ Foden said.
‘Hopefully Gareth was watching
the final and saw things that he
liked. That is all I can do, just
show what I can do every time
I play and see where it takes me.
‘We haven’t spoken much, but
Gareth has said that he is keeping
a close eye on me.’
City boss Pep Guardiola is likely
to give Foden an 11th start of the
season when City face sheffield
Wednesday in the FA Cup
tomorrow night. The 19-year-old
has waited patiently for
opportunities, with Guardiola
criticised for his handling of the
prodigious teenager. ‘I was getting
quite frustrated but as a few
months went on, I started getting
the hang of it,’ added Foden.
‘That’s when I felt comfortable
and like I belonged there.’
by JaCK gaUgHan
EvErton boss Carlo
Ancelotti has been
charged with misconduct
by the FA. the Italian was
sent off after Sunday’s 1-1
draw against Manchester
United. Ancelotti saw red
for confronting referee
Chris Kavanagh at the
final whistle to complain
about Dominic Calvert-
Lewin’s late winner
being disallowed. He will
be fined if he accepts the
charge but does not face
a touchline ban.
FOOTBALL dIgESt
JaMie VarDy will sit out Leicester’s
Fa Cup fifth-round clash at home to
Birmingham tomorrow but ‘should be
fine’ for the visit of aston Villa on Monday,
according to boss Brendan rodgers.
Vardy missed the Foxes’ 1-0 defeat at
Norwich last Friday with a calf problem.
WATFORD’s hopes of Premier League
survival have suffered a huge blow with
winger Gerard Deulofeu set to miss the rest
of the season. The spaniard is set for
surgery after rupturing his anterior cruciate
ligament and tearing his meniscus during
saturday’s 3-0 win over Liverpool. Watford
boss Nigel Pearson said: ‘It’s important we
look forward with a positive mentality.’
Man of
the match:
Foden with
Guardiola at
Wembley
GETTY iMaGEs