Henderson promises his best is yet to come

The England international made his first senior appearance of the campaign during the Carabao Cup tie with West Ham United and impressed despite the 1-0 defeat.

Enjoying a sustained spell of training at Carrington, he now believes he is ready to fulfil his enormous potential with his boyhood club.

“It’s been a tough few months for me but to come back in now, amongst it and feeling full power is a great feeling,” he told MUTV’s Stewart Gardner.

“It [the illness] obviously stopped me at the start of the season and I was unfortunate I got ill but, at the end of the day, you’ve got to take it on the chin and come back better than ever. I feel really good now and just want to get out there and prove my worth.

“I haven’t been my best in the Manchester United shirt yet. I feel good, really good, now and it’s about building those games up, game after game, and hopefully I’ll get my opportunity and I’ll build on it and be the best you’ve seen me in a United shirt.

It is easy to forget that Henderson’s outing against the Hammers was his first chance to experience a full Old Trafford, and he is desperate to show what he can do after also making a couple of comeback appearances in the Under-23s.

“To be honest, I think it felt like the first game I’ve ever played,” he added. “Since lockdown, with the fans back, it felt more normal and you could express yourself and felt a bit of adrenaline, to do things on autopilot like you train every day. I was delighted to play at Old Trafford.

“Listen, when the fans are back it gives me a boost. I’m someone who thrives off the energy. It was good to be out there in front of the home fans at last. It’s been a long 18 months for everyone and I was delighted.

“I went and played two Under-23s games off my own back,” he said. “I wanted to get back out there, back on the pitch as I’ve been off the pitch for four months, which is a long time. Then I played West Ham and it was a long time out. I’ll take everything in my stride and am really so excited to get back out there again and hopefully pick up some good form.

“I can help the younger players [in the Under-23s]. Let’s not get it wrong, I’ve played in every league in England so I’m very experienced in what I do. I know what it’s like to be in another dressing room, at times being the underdog, and I know what to expect playing for Manchester United. When you take that into account, I’m sure I can pass on that experience to the youngsters and help them a lot.”