Henderson raring to go after final heartbreak

Wearsider Jordan Henderson is ready to put Champions League heartache behind him and get “straight back to business” at the World Cup.

Henderson captained Liverpool in their dramatic 3-1 final defeat by Real Madrid in Kiev – a game that saw two major goalkeeping gaffes from Loris Karius and a first-half injury to star man Mohamed Salah.

Ex-Sunderland star Henderson and Anfield team-mate Trent Alexander-Arnold were granted extra time off before linking up with England as a result of their involvement and, while the memories of his night in Kiev are still raw, the midfielder is focused on the task at hand.

Having sat out Saturday’s 2-1 Wembley win over Nigeria, Henderson will return to the Three Lions midfield when Costa Rica visit Leeds United’s Elland Road ground for a farewell friendly tomorrow.

“It’s been difficult over the last 10 days. It was hard to take,” admitted the Liverpool skipper.

“I’ve had a little bit of time off and time with the family, which was important.

“It was good to get my head around it and have some down-time to refocus on what is important and that is the World Cup now.

“That is where the focus has got to be. I think it is a good thing, I get straight back to business.

“What’s important is doing the best I can for the national team.”

England begin their World Cup campaign against Tunisia in Volgograd on June 18. They also meet Panama on June 24 and top seeds Belgium four days later.

Nearly three in four players at this summer’s World Cup will come from European clubs, with English sides supplying 130 of them, 49 more than the second biggest provider, Spain.