Cumbrian goalkeeper Dean Henderson says he was "fuming" to have "wasted" a year of his career in the margins at Manchester United.

The Whitehaven star has spoken out at what he described as "criminal" treatment over his lack of first-team football in the last 12 months.

Henderson gave an interview to TalkSport when he said bosses at Old Trafford had promised him first-choice status - only for him to play second fiddle to David de Gea last season.

The Cumbrian has since joined Nottingham Forest on a season-long loan and is set to make his competitive debut for the club in their Premier League opener against Newcastle United this weekend.

Henderson, 25, said in the radio interview: "The conversation I had coming out of the Euros squad [last year] was, ‘You’re coming back here to be the No1.’

“I got Covid, came back, so I should have still been the No1, but then unfortunately nobody followed through with what they had told me.

“It was frustrating because I turned down so many good loans last summer for that reason, and they [Man Utd] would not let me go.

“To sit there and waste 12 months, it is criminal really, at my age, I was fuming."

Henderson made just three first-team appearances last season.

The former Carlisle United academy keeper added: "To be honest, it has probably been the toughest 12 months of my career.

“It has been tough, hard, and I am so happy I have gone out the other end of it.

“I am so excited to be at Nottingham Forest and ready to go.

“I worked hard off the pitch and on the training pitch to keep improving, day-in-day-out, and now I am looking forward to the season with Nottingham Forest.

News and Star: Henderson has joined Nottingham Forest on a season-long loanHenderson has joined Nottingham Forest on a season-long loan

“I didn’t really want the manager to come in and see me in training [this summer] because I knew that he’d probably want to keep me, so I tried to do it all [arrange the Forest move] before I left for the season.

“I told the hierarchy that I need to be playing football, I don’t want to be here and play second fiddle, it was planned out.

"I was almost gone before the manager [Erik ten Hag] came through the door. I have not spoken to him since.”

Henderson's strongly-worded interview was the first time he has spoken in detail about the situation.

“You may have noticed that I haven’t been able to do an interview in two years,” Henderson added on TalkSport. “That’s evident, isn’t it?

News and Star: Henderson lost his place to David de Gea, left, last seasonHenderson lost his place to David de Gea, left, last season

“I just kept myself to myself, I’ve sort of toned down in the sense where I don’t need to be saying stuff, I just go and end up doing it.

“There’s nothing wrong with self-belief, you have to believe in yourself in this game.

“Especially in this position you’re probably playing the hardest position on the pitch, you have to believe in yourself.

“Maybe when I’m younger I said a few things in interviews that I maybe shouldn’t have and it may have been over the top but it’s all part of learning.”

Henderson added that he was delighted to hear the faith Forest boss Steve Cooper has in him

"He said: ‘Look, I don’t care what you’ve done in the game, I don’t care about this, that and the other, I want you to come and play for me and I’ll back you 110 per cent'," Henderson added.

“It’s something I’ve been crying out for for 365 days. It was fantastic to hear a manager have that trust in me and I can’t wait to repay him.”