Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper praised Dean Henderson after the Cumbrian's starring role in their Premier League win over West Ham United.

Henderson saved a Declan Rice penalty as Forest won 1-0 in their first home game in the top flight for 23 years.

It came in the second game of Whitehaven star Henderson's loan spell at the City Ground from Manchester United.

The Cumbrian's display saw him back to prominence after spending most of last season as second choice to David de Gea at Old Trafford.

Henderson recently used a radio interview to hit out at his treatment at Man Utd.

Cooper said: "I’m not interested in that [the Man Utd situation]. In terms of his performance he was excellent.

"He looked a really good goalkeeper. The obvious thing is the penalty save and the other saves he made, and his distribution and decision-making was good.

"I thought tactically he was good with his positioning. He did well last week, did well this week and we need him to do well next week.

“At times you need goalkeepers to have big moments, like you need strikers to have big moments.

News and Star: Henderson dives to his right to save Rice's penaltyHenderson dives to his right to save Rice's penalty

“Dean had some big moments but that is his job, he did it well. He will review the game properly with the goalkeeping staff and working even harder to keep improving.”

Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Henderson said that working with Rice in the England set-up had helped him with the penalty.

"Well I know Dec’s favourite side from training with him but you never know if he’s going to change it up last minute. I stuck with what I knew," said the former Carlisle United academy keeper, who dived to his right to hold onto Rice's spot-kick.

It was his second penalty save in the Premier League, his first coming in January 2020 for Sheffield United when he denied Manchester City's Gabriel Jesus.

Henderson made other important saves during the game as Taiwo Awoniyi's goal gave Forest the points.

Other Cumbrian connections at Forest are first-team coach Jamie Robinson, the former Calrisle United defender, and under-23s assistant head coach Dave Rogers, another ex-Blues centre-half.