JORDAN HENDERSON will never be one of football’s headline acts.
Over the years, the ones he has made have probably been more negative than in his favour.
England’s unsung hero Henderson deserves huge credit for defusing Sterling-Gomez rowCredit: Rex Features
Over the years, the ones he has made have probably been more negative than in his favourCredit: Rex Features
Like the slur from Sir Alex Ferguson about his running style, when he was still cutting his teeth at Sunderland.
Like the slurs he would never be up to filling Steven Gerrard’s boots as Liverpool skipper — the playing equivalent, incidentally, of following Fergie as Manchester United boss.
Like the slurs from Anfield fans at one stage that he wasn’t even good enough to merit a place in the team, when he was being used as a deep-lying midfielder.
Henderson, as is his way, never reacted to any of them.
No hissy fits, no angry reaction. Just head down, sleeves rolled up and an “I’ll prove them all wrong” attitude.
And now, of course, he is a fixture in both the Liverpool and England sides. A man whose absence is noted, rather than presence questioned by club and country.
You’d never get a reaction from the man himself now opinions have changed for the good, any more than there were before.
So maybe we shouldn’t be surprised that this week he played an absolute blinder and didn’t get more than a mention in passing.
Henderson, as we know, wasn’t due to join England until Wednesday as he was banned for the Montenegro game.
Instead, when Raheem Sterling lost his rag and the Joe Gomez bust-up came to light, he went down a day early.
By then though, he had already telephoned both players to help broker the peace — and in Sterling’s case, he did him a huge favour.
The Manchester City striker actually left the squad for 20 minutes or so on Monday.
When Raheem Sterling lost his rag and the Joe Gomez bust-up came to light, Henderson went down a day earlyCredit: Reuters
Some say it was simply because he wanted to escape for a while to calm down.
But what if that wasn’t the case? What if he had walked out and not gone back?
What repercussions would there have been then? Certainly more than just being dropped for Thursday.
Henderson, who knows both Sterling and Gomez well, helped talk him down and talk him round, ending any doubts the player may have had about returning to St George’s.
Had he not done so, an incident which became bigger news than the fixture itself, wouldn’t be drawing to a conclusion. Not for the foreseeable, either.
Who knows? If Sterling had turned his back on England now, he could have been doing so for the long-term — either by his own choice or the manager’s.
Liverpool captain Henderson knows both Sterling and Gomez wellCredit: Rex Features
Whatever the outcome, they wouldn’t have been good for either the player or the team.
So for his part in all this, Henderson deserves nothing but praise. His role as peacemaker was just as important as Gareth Southgate’s.
You can only imagine Jordan’s thoughts when those morons booed Gomez’ introduction on Thursday.
That, though, is another issue. The knuckle-dragging minority in the Wembley stands don’t deserve any mention beyond a passing one.
Henderson, though, certainly does. Yet, as is usually the case, his contribution has gone under the radar.
While all eyes will be on Sterling’s return to the side in Kosovo today, little will be said of the Liverpool skipper’s continued absence, this time through a virus.
With qualification sealed, it won’t matter. But when it comes to the Euros themselves, don’t underestimate his importance.
Gareth Southgate baffled by England fans booing Gomez
Legend he will never be. Captain and leader he already is.
There are plenty who cringe at the prospect of Liverpool lifting the Premier League trophy in May — something not even the magnificent Gerrard managed.
Yet, whatever reasons they may have for not wanting to see the title at Anfield, Henderson won’t be one of them.
The knuckle-dragging minority in the Wembley stands don’t deserve any mention beyond a passing oneCredit: Rex Features
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
