Dean Henderson hopeful of England spot at Euro 2024 after going to 'hell and back' for Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson believes he has done enough to earn an England recall for Euro 2024, having found form again after going to “hell and back” during an injury-hit year.
Henderson made a string of outstanding saves at Anfield on Sunday to help Palace stun Liverpool and move closer to Premier League survival.
The 27-year-old had endured a difficult season since his £20million move from Manchester United last summer. He started the campaign as back-up to Sam Johnstone and then suffered a thigh injury 19 minutes into his debut in September, which kept him out for three months.
Henderson then competed with Johnstone for the Palace No1 spot, but he is now first-choice after Johnstone was ruled out of the season with an elbow injury.
Johnstone is set to miss the Euros this summer and Henderson, who has impressed for Palace in four starts since coming back into the team last month, believes he should go to Germany as third-choice behind Jordan Pickford and Aaron Ramsdale.
“Why not? When I was fit in the past, I’ve always been in the England set-up — you don’t become a bad keeper overnight,” said the keeper, whose one cap came in 2020 and who was last called up to an England squad in September 2022.
“Sometimes you need a block of work to get back to your best. Obviously, I’ve got a block of work in there now, and I’m starting to get back to my best.”
Life as a third-choice goalkeeper at a major tournament can be a lonely experience, but Henderson said: “It’s not as lonely as the last 11 months have been. I’ve been to hell and back, getting injury after injury and with things not quite working out.
“I’m happy now I’m back playing. That’s a big tick. I’d love to go in any capacity. I’ll go and save shots, try and save penalties, help England out in any way. I’ll get the nod hopefully.”
A 14th-minute goal from Eberechi Eze gave Palace something to hold onto at Anfield, and Henderson was in inspired form, making brilliant saves to deny Luis Dias and Darwin Nunez.
“I’ve been working towards that performance now for a few weeks,” he said.
“The manager [Oliver Glasner] genuinely said to us, ‘We’re going to win today’, and that’s huge.
“We came here to win. We were written off by every single person and that’s the best feeling. Eleven men in front of 62,000 people. There was only one [fanbase] celebrating and that was the 3,000 Palace fans, so I’m delighted.”
Palace have moved eight points above the drop-zone with a game in hand on Luton and Burnley. Midfielder Adam Wharton said: “We took our chances.”
