David de Gea cuts holiday short as 'exhausting' Dean Henderson battle resumes at Man Utd - The Mirror

David de Gea started last season as Manchester United's first-choice for Premier League fixtures but Dean Henderson gradually became Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's go-to goalkeeper

David de Gea has returned to Manchester United for pre-season training weeks ahead of schedule in a bid to wrestle back the No.1 spot from Dean Henderson.

De Gea, 30, started last season as first-choice for Premier League fixtures but Henderson, 24, gradually became Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's go-to goalkeeper.

The Spaniard subsequently helped his country reach the semi-finals of Euro 2020 and was due to spend two more weeks resting and recuperating before arriving back at United's Carrington base.

But De Gea has already returned to training as his battle with Henderson reaches new levels of intensity ahead of the new season.

As first reported by the Daily Star , De Gea hopes his show of determination will convince Solskjaer to reinstate him as first-choice shot-stopper.

Henderson, meanwhile, is recovering from the niggling injury which forced him to withdraw from England's squad for Euro 2020 last month.

He recently opened up on the mental and physical toll his contest with De Gea has taken, so he is unlikely to welcome news of his rival returning to training far ahead of schedule.

"Listen, after last season, it was very difficult for me," Henderson told talkSPORT . "I worked every day, day-in and day-out, I was grinding down to get into that team at Man United.

"I went through every brick wall I could get through, I fought hard and when I got into the team I was shattered, I was exhausted.

"I was mentally tired, I'd done everything right to get into the team, but I'd used up all my energy worrying about getting into the team.

"So when I got into the team I had a good little run and then got injured and then I struggled."

Solskjaer discussed his two star goalkeepers in May and admitted he would need to find a "solution" to try and satisfy both parties next season.

"It’s been a strange season in that respect with regards to goalkeeping," the Red Devils boss added. "At United, most of the time we’ve had a number one who has been playing most of the time.

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"We brought Dean back [after two years on loan at Sheffield United] to challenge David and he’s had a very good season.

"David flew home for the birth of his baby, which gave Dean a longer run in the team and he really played well and established himself as a very good goalkeeper. He’s learnt a lot from it.

"But David is David, he’s really played well as well, he’s buckled down and really taken on the challenge. I’m really pleased with the two of them."