Most Leeds fans will still be trying to forget the way last term ended, seeing their team capitulate with four games to go to allow Sheffield United to sneak into the automatic promotion places ahead of them.

Despite being on the verge of promotion, three defeats in the last four games, allowed Sheffield United to take advantage and confine United to the play-offs where they ultimately lost against Derby County, condemning the Whites to a 16^th season outside the Premier League.

One of the Blades’ stand-out men last term was goalkeeper Dean Henderson, who kept 21 clean-sheets as the Blades pulled off an unlikely promotion.

On Wednesday the nightmare of last season’s end cropped up again for Leeds fans when Blades keeper Dean Henderson claimed he almost joined Leeds before opting to join the South Yorkshire side last summer.

This revelation will no doubt irritate Leeds fans who may be thinking how their season could have ended had the Manchester United loanee been between the sticks at Elland Road.

Here are three reasons why Henderson’s admission will be a source of frustration for Leeds fans…

Stability between the sticks

Despite keeping 11 clean sheets in the first-half of the season, some fans questioned then number one goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell’s performances, especially in the defeats to Birmingham City and West Bromwich Albion.

Leeds opted to switch their number one goalkeeper half way through last term when Kiko Casilla arrived in January from Real Madrid.

Although fans saw the Spaniard as an upgrade to Peacock-Farrell, Casilla only managed five clean sheets (including the play-offs) and was largely blamed for Derby’s equaliser in the play-off second leg.

If Henderson had begun the season at United it would be hard to envisage him losing his place and Casilla being brought in, which maybe would have led to United having more stability at the back last term.

Can you score 15 out of 15 on this Friday Leeds United quiz? Have a go now!

A ready-made Premier League goalkeeper

After coming through Manchester United’s ranks but yet to make a senior appearance for them, Henderson finally made his Premier League debut with the Blades in August.

In 11 top-flight appearances Henderson has already kept five clean-sheets, seeing the Blades move to 6^th in the table.

His early-season form has been so impressive he has earned two successive call-ups to Gareth Southgate’s England squad.

If Henderson had been at Elland Road last season, he may well have been playing Premier League football with the Whites this term.

The statistics suggest United would have finished their campaign stronger than they ultimately did

Henderson and Sheffield United kept 12 clean sheets in the final half of the season, a run which no doubt saw them clinch promotion ahead of Leeds.

Leeds, in comparison, only kept five in that time and sloppy performances against QPR, Birmingham and Wigan will still be unhappy memories in Leeds fans’ heads.

A keeper like Henderson wouldn’t have been the answer to all of Leeds’ problems but he would of no doubt tightened up their defence.