Shrewsbury manager Paul Hurst hopes to keep hold of Cumbrian loanee Dean Henderson until the end of the season - and believes the keeper is the most consistent in League One.
Whitehaven-born Henderson has been a key figure for Salop in their unlikely rise to second in the League One table this season.
The 20-year-old's season-long loan deal from Manchester United has a January recall option but Hurst is planning for life with the confident goalkeeper, who began his career as a Carlisle United youngster, beyond this month.
"He is due to be here," Hurst said. "But, ultimately if Manchester United want to call him back, then that’s [in] their contract.
"There’s no reason to think that he won’t be [staying] but, at the same time, we have to be ready to act if a situation occurs and they decide they want him back.
"We want him. No-one’s making any secret and it’ll be no surprise to anyone.
"The fans have taken to him, the players have seen what a good goalkeeper he is. We would love him to stay.
"I think Dean wants to stay but we’ll see how it ends up playing out."
Hurst took the shot-stopper to his former club Grimsby Town last season, before bringing him to Shrewsbury ahead of the start of the 2017/18 campaign.
"I think you’d struggle to find someone that has performed as consistently," Hurst told The Shropshire Star .
"I’m sure there are some out there that would have an argument for that but I’ve seen quite a few goalkeeping errors.
"I’m struggling to think of when Dean has done that and that’s big credit to him.
"He’d certainly be up there. I wouldn’t want to swap him for anyone."
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