Tom Heaton bid to be Manchester United No.1 rubbished as Dean Henderson backed to replace David De Gea by Jamie O’Hara

Jamie O’Hara rubbished claims Tom Heaton will be pushing to be Manchester United’s No.1 this season, as he also backed Dean Henderson to start over David De Gea.

Heaton returned to Old Trafford this summer having come through the club’s youth ranks before leaving in 2010 without ever making an appearance.

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The 35-year-old spent the next decade playing in the Championship and Premier League and went back to United on a free transfer after leaving Aston Villa.

He finally got his first minutes of action for the Red Devils in a pre-season friendly this week, in a 2-1 win over Derby County, keeping a clean sheet in the 45 minutes he played.

After the game, Heaton said he is aiming to challenge for a starting place.

“That’s the plan,” he said. “Of course I’ve had a fair bit of experience under my belt so I think I can add perhaps a different dimension to the department. There’ll be a professional respect and support all the way through it. But personally that’s the aim, everywhere I’ve been in my career you step on and try and get in the team.”

There have even been for Solskjaer this season, with the goalkeeper unburdened by the chopping and changing between De Gea and Henderson last term that harmed both goalkeepers' form.

However, former Tottenham midfielder O’Hara insists it will only between Henderson and De Gea.

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When asked to name his order of goalkeepers, O’Hara said: “Dean Henderson, David De Gea, Tom Heaton.

“Tom Heaton is a very good goalkeeper, but he’s not on the level of David De Gea and what Dean Henderson is doing.

“I think it is like last season, they fight it out for the No.1 jersey. De Gea and Henderson are both top ‘keepers.

“With De Gea, you are going to get mistakes - he’s going to throw one in.

“Henderson is more solid, doesn’t make too many mistakes, but he’s not as good with his feet like David De Gea is. 

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“It will depend on how he [Solskjaer] wants to set up. It’s going to be really interesting to see who he does start because your ‘keeper is massively important.

“With the fans back as well, their form at home was shocking last season and with the fans back they’re not going to have that.

“The pressure is going to be on if they don’t get off to a good start.”