Dean Henderson had to have feared that the moment would never come, especially during the tough times and there have been plenty of those. When it finally did, in England’s 3-1 victory against Finland on Sunday, it was emotional and for so many reasons.
The Crystal Palace goalkeeper found out on Saturday that he was in the starting XI for the Nations League tie in Helsinki, 1,431 days after he won his first England cap as a half-time substitute in the 3-0 friendly win against Republic of Ireland at Wembley.
The excitement surged as he made the arrangements to get his family out to the game. The only way was to charter a plane, as needs must. Yet his thoughts did not stray too far from the man who would not be there; the one who had always been there.
“My old man … we lost him in the summer,” Henderson says, and it is impossible not to feel the rawness of it all. “It would have been great for him to be watching so it’s been emotional – 100% mixed emotions. But listen, I know I’ve just got to keep doing him proud. He didn’t miss any of my matches; the journey we went on was phenomenal. We’ve just got to keep it continuing.”
Henderson was rocked by another loss last Wednesday, the death of his former Sheffield United teammate George Baldock, to whom he was close. The England‑born Greece international drowned in a swimming pool at his home in Athens. Twenty‑four hours later, Greece took on England at Wembley, although many of their players did not want to play. Baldock was honoured with applause before Greece’s 2-1 triumph.
“I’m still numb from it,” Henderson says. “The group of lads we had there [at Sheffield United] and what a big character he was. To lose him, just out of the blue, as well. And, obviously, wondering about Annabel, his poor missus, and everything with their young boy, Brody. I don’t even know what to say. I’m lost for words on it.”
Henderson’s England comeback is testament to his resilience. “It’s been four years since I played my last game and it just shows you can never give up, you’ve got to bounce back,” he says. “I’m proud to have done that because it’s been difficult times.”
Where to start? When Henderson came on for Nick Pope that night against Ireland, he was back at Manchester United, the club where he started as an academy hopeful, after two memorable seasons on loan at Sheffield United. The first brought promotion from the Championship; the second a ninth‑placed Premier League finish.
The problem he had at Old Trafford was called David de Gea and although Henderson threatened to supplant him in 2020-21, making 26 appearances, the following campaign featured only three. On loan at Nottingham Forest in 2022-23, Henderson tore a thigh muscle, had surgery and missed the second half of the season.
There would be another injury after his move to Palace in the summer of last year, plus problems getting into the team in the face of competition from Sam Johnstone. Henderson was granted his Palace debut in the Carabao Cup in late September at Manchester United, of all places, only to be forced off after 19 minutes with a hamstring issue. It would rule him out for two and a half months. Henderson got back in and was then out again before injury to Johnstone saw him finish the season strongly. Johnstone moved to Wolves in August.
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“I don’t think the situation helped either of us, to be honest,” Henderson says. “We’ve seen it across the board in many different clubs. I was in a scenario with Man United [with De Gea] when it was the same and it just doesn’t really help anyone.
“I don’t think it works. I always thought it would [at Palace] but it never does. I think if Sam and I are both honest about it, we’d probably say exactly the same thing. I’m delighted for him with his move and I’m sure he’ll do really well. I wish him all the best.”
Henderson was frustrated to concede late against Finland after poor marking at a corner but after everything he has been through, it felt like small beer. His focus now turns to Palace’s trip to Forest next Monday night, when he and his teammates will seek a first league win of the season.
“Before the Finland game, the manager [Lee Carsley] just said I deserved this shot,” Henderson says. “He told me to enjoy it. I’ve worked so hard to get back to this moment.”
