LOOK OUT, NIGERIA TO COURT ADE
SKIPPER FEELS BENEFIT OF REDS’ SUNSHINE TRIP
JORDAN HENDERSON claims Liverpool’s La Manga break will recharge them for their Champions League bid.
Henderson believes the players are benefitting from the winter training trip to southern Spain, after the morale-boosting win over Tottenham got their top-four push back on track.
The Reds skipper says the players are enjoying spending time together and will return home tomorrow, ready for the final push.
“It’s definitely a bonus coming here, working on one or two things and, hopefully, we can play like we did against Spurs for the rest of the season,” he said.
“It’s a different environment and you’re with each other 24/7, so I think that’ll only benefit us as a team going into the last part of the season.
“We can get a lot of work in on the training pitch – the stuff we need to improve on – and everyone is looking forward to it.
“I’m sure the sun will help and we’ll be feeling refreshed in the training. So hopefully, when we go back home, we’re recharged and ready to go.” Henderson played down the meeting with his team-mates ahead of the win over Spurs, but hopes that victory will be a turning point.
“It wasn’t just me,” said the England midfielder. “There are a lot of leaders in the group and we all decided to get together and anyone could speak about what we needed to improve on.
“The Spurs win gives us a little bit of confidence, getting back to the way we know we can play, and have played for the majority of the season.”
Daniel Sturridge flew home yesterday after failing to shake off a virus. But Liverpool hope he will recover in time for their next match at Leicester on Monday week. NIGERIA are stepping up their attempts to prise Ademola Lookman away from England.
Lookman, 19, is at the centre of a tug-of-war after making an instant impact following his £11million move to Everton last month.
The London-born forward has played for England’s Under-19s and 20s.
But he is also eligible for Nigeria, through his parents, and his representatives held talks with Nigerian Football Federation officials last week about his international future.
Nigeria’s German boss Gernot Rohr is now planning to travel to England to try and persuade Lookman to switch allegiance.
Rohr has already earmarked Lookman (above) for a place in his squad for Nigeria’s friendly against Senegal next month.
Lookman has been involved in Everton’s last five games and scored minutes after coming on for his debut to seal a 4-0 win over Manchester City. ASTON VILLA’S £7million striker Libor Kozak has played his last game for the club.
The Czech Republic ace (below) has had ankle surgery and will not play again this season. He will be released in the summer when he is out of contract.
Villa signed Kozak, 27, from Lazio in 2013.
But in an injury-hit four years he has only started 12 games. This season he has only played 82 minutes in two Championship matches back in August.