David De Gea cuts holiday SHORT in plot to wrestle Man United’s No.1 spot back from Dean Henderson

David De Gea cuts holiday SHORT as Spaniard plots to wrestle Manchester United’s No.1 spot back from Dean Henderson with his career on the brink after miserable 12 months

  • David De Gea faces a big season after losing his spot at Manchester United 
  • Ole Gunnar Solskjaer favoured Dean Henderson late in the 2020-21 season
  • De Gea was also benched at Euro 2020 as Spain reached the semi-finals
  • The keeper has now returned early for pre-season, aiming to get back to his best

David De Gea has decided enough is enough, returning from his holiday early to get stuck into pre-season training as he aims to put his career back on track. 

The Spaniard’s stock has taken a dramatic dive in the last 12 months, losing his spot between the sticks to Dean Henderson at Old Trafford after a miserable, mistake-ridden 2020-21 season. 

De Gea couldn’t even get off the bench at Euro 2020, with Luis Enrique preferring Unai Simon as Spain reached the semi-finals this summer. 

David De Gea has returned for Manchester United’s pre-season training early after his holiday

The keeper endured a woeful season and was benched for Dean Henderson in the league

The keeper endured a woeful season and was benched for Dean Henderson in the league 

The 30-year-old was only expected back in the north-west of England in early August but is already back at Carrington after just two weeks of holiday.   

‘David wants to be back and sharp. He could have taken it easy for three weeks but he also knows Hendo is equally determined to prove himself to Ole,’ an insider at United told the Sun

Henderson had to watch from the sofa as England stormed to the Euros final this summer, having suffered a hip injury just days before the tournament. 

The 24-year-old is already back in training ahead of the new season – likely the key factor in De Gea’s decision to forgo a few more weeks of holiday.  

Henderson (second from left) is already back in training after suffering a hip injury in June

Henderson (second from left) is already back in training after suffering a hip injury in June 

De Gea had to watch from the side as Spain made it to the Euro 2020 semi-finals this summer

De Gea had to watch from the side as Spain made it to the Euro 2020 semi-finals this summer

De Gea will be keen to impress Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and nail-down the starting spot for the opening game against Leeds United.

The Spaniard was a long way off his best last season, which culminated in a nightmare penalty shoot-out in the Europa League final. 

He failed to stop a single one of Villarreal’s 11 spot-kicks before missing his own, handing the trophy to the La Liga side. 

De Gea will be keen to play a key role this season with United strengthening for a title challenge. They’ve signed Jadon Sancho and are closing-in on Raphael Varane, two men that could be the missing pieces of the puzzle.