Dean Henderson can be England's long-term No1 if he secures the first-choice goalkeeping position at Manchester United.

That is the view of Jamie Carragher as the Cumbrian keeper's progress comes in for more attention.

Liverpool legend Carragher, speaking on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football, said it would be hard to ignore Henderson's claims to be his country's No1 if he permanently unseats David De Gea at Old Trafford.

The Whitehaven-born star is currently getting a run in the Man Utd side with De Gea having been away for the birth of his daughter.

Henderson impressed with his latest clean sheet in Sunday's Manchester derby, earning praise from boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and pundits such as Red Devils great Roy Keane.

Internationally, the 23-year-old is competing with Jordan Pickford and Nick Pope, with Carragher feeling that while Pickford may remain first-choice for this summer's European Championships, it could be a different story beyond that.

Carragher said: "You think if Henderson becomes the United goalkeeper, I always think it is very difficult for an England manager to not pick a player at a top club never mind a goalkeeper or another position.

"I think Nick Pope would find it difficult to become a regular for England because he plays for Burnley. And no disrespect to Sean Dyche and the club, but the way they play and certainly the way Southgate wants to play is completely different.

"Now if you're playing for Manchester United week in week out, playing maybe Champions League football, or the top end where the pressure is as high as possible, that gives him [Henderson] a great possibility.

"Maybe after this tournament, I think Pickford will keep his place for that. But I think going forward next season, if Henderson is the Manchester United goalkeeper, I think it is very difficult not to pick him for England."

Former England and Man Utd keeper Ben Foster, now with Watford, also believes ex-Carlisle United academy player Henderson has the right attributes to impress for club and country.

Speaking on Sky, Foster said: "If you are playing for Man Utd and you are doing it week in week out like I think Dean can do and will do, then it is a no-brainer that he can play for England.

"If you look at the [other] goalkeepers we have got in the squad in Nick Pope and Jordan Pickford, [then] I think Dean Henderson is a mixture of both of them.

"He is very good technically, a very good shot-stopper but he is also very good with his feet as well."