Lallana could be the answer to England prayers
ENGLAND do not have to look far for a player with the X factor – they’ve already got him and he could be playing at Huddersfield on Saturday.
That make-the-difference talent is Liverpool’s Adam Lallana who is set to return this week after a groin injury.
His Anfield team-mate Jordan Henderson is convinced both club and country are set to benefit from a player he describes as “unique”.
It has been claimed that England are short of a special creative talent in midfield like Croatia’s Real Madrid star Luka Modric.
But Henderson said: “That type of creative player is rare to come by but the biggest one I would look at is probably Adam.
“He’s that type of player who is a big part of Liverpool and England. We have really missed him in the sense of what he brings to the team.
“But we do have other creative players like Dele Alli and Jesse Lingard – definitely. And look at Jadon Sancho who has just come into the squad at the age of 18.
“At Borussia Dortmund he has more assists this season than anyone in Europe. So we definitely have creative players, but, of course, you are going to miss someone like Adam with his quality. He is a huge player.” Lallana missed the World Cup in Russia this summer through injury and Henderson is convinced semi-finalists England could have done even better if his good pal had been in boss Gareth Southgate’s squad.
Henderson said: “That was tough for Adam to deal with and we’ve missed him, both with Liverpool and England.
“I keep saying he is a massive player because he is and I’m not just saying it because he is such a close friend. “It’s exciting for me to know how much he can help us. He would have been an extra boost for England at the World Cup. “Age is not a factor – he is only 30 and that is not old. I’m 28 and I still feel young. Adam is unique. I couldn’t believe how good he was when I first trained with him with England.
“I rated him highly at Southampton and I was delighted when he moved to Liverpool. There just aren’t many players like him. “He is a player who links the midfield to the players going forward. When he comes back he will have a massive impact on Liverpool and England.”
Lallana is so highly rated at Anfield that boss Jurgen Klopp described him as the “perfect replacement” for Philippe Coutinho when the Brazilian was sold to Barcelona.
That is another reason why Henderson is convinced that things can only get better for Liverpool and England with a fit-again Lallana throwing his distinctive talent into the mix.
PAUL HETHERINGTON