Henderson fit for showdown

ENGLAND expect Jordan Henderson to be fit for Wednesday’s date with destiny despite a hamstring injury scare. The Liverpool captain suffered a thigh problem during the closing stages of the quarter-final win over Sweden before being substituted. Henderson was assessed yesterday and early indications from within the England camp are that the midfielder should be available for the semi-final against Croatia in Moscow. Henderson said: ‘I was a little bit tight before the game so towards the last 20 minutes I just overstretched and I felt it a little bit. But it doesn’t feel too bad so hopefully it will be fine.’ Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford hurt his thumb against Sweden, but Sportsmail understands he will be fit following assessment on it yesterday. Pickford, who made three outstanding saves against Sweden, emerged after the

match with his left hand bandaged. ‘It was a daft injury,’ he said. ‘I went to punch the floor in anger and ended up punching my knee and hurt my thumb. But I’m a man, not a mouse. I’m fine.’ Jamie Vardy will also be fit for the semi-final after recovering from the groin injury that threatened his inclusion in Samara. England’s medical team have considered giving the Leicester striker a pain-killing injection to help aid the recovery process, but he is set to be available for Wednesday.