Jamie Carragher has urged Manchester United to give Cumbrian keeper Dean Henderson a run of games to see if he is ready to be the club's long-term No1.
Whitehaven-born Henderson is trying to edge past David de Gea to claim the first-choice slot at Old Trafford.
Spaniara de Gea remains Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's regular pick in the Premier League but Liverpool legend Carragher believes ex-Carlisle United academy player Henderson warrants a chance.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Carragher said: "David de Gea, right now, is not a goalkeeper to win the league.
"They have a really good understudy in Dean Henderson, but we don’t know if he’s Manchester United material.
"United aren’t going to win the league but I think they’re pretty safe for the top-four with the points they’ve got and how good they are.
"If I was Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, I would put Dean Henderson in for 10 or 12 games now because they need to find out if he’s Manchester United’s number one for next season.
"If he plays and he’s not good enough, they need to buy a new goalkeeper in the summer."
Manager Solskjaer says 23-year-old Henderson has improved this season as a result of the opportunities he has been given.
The Cumbrian has made 11 first-team appearances so far in a season which has also seen him claim a first full England cap.
Solskjaer recently said the keeper was impatient for more senior action for the club he joined from the Blues back in 2011.
"He’s working hard on a couple of aspects that we’ve spoken about with him," Solskjaer said of the player who has had loan spells at Stockport, Grimsby, Shrewsbury and Sheffield United in previous seasons.
"I’ve been impressed with his attitude and work-rate. Of course, he’s...not the most patient guy!
"He wants to play every game because he knows that he’ll perform well, so long may it continue, because he’s improved since he’s come here."
Carragher's Sky Sports colleague and fellow former Liverpool great Graeme Souness has said he is a big fan of the Cumbrian.
Souness admires the keeper's "big personality" and feels it is only a matter of time before he plays more regularly for Man Utd.
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