HENDERSON RELISHES TIME TO GET PHYSICAL
FORMER SUNDERLAND MIDFIELDER WILL ENJOY THE BATTLE AGAINST GROUP FOES PANAMA
Wearsider Jordan Henderson has welcomed the prospect of a physical World Cup battle against Panama on Sunday, insisting that England will not be outmuscled.
Belgium manager Roberto Martinez appeared unhappy with the approach taken by the Central Americans during their Group G meeting, seemingly happy to exit the fixture with three points and no injuries.
Panama captain Roman Torres has already promised his side will look to “mark out (their) territory” against England in Nizhny Novgorod, but Liverpool’s Sunderland-born captain Henderson believes that will be easier said than done.
“We will match them physically,” said Henderson.
“I think the lads will be used to the physical side of things from playing in the Premier League, the games we play each week are usually physical and I think that is something the lads enjoy. Tunisia were quite like that as well, there were quite a lot of fouls in the middle area of the pitch. I am sure Panama will be similar and they will try and make it difficult for us.
“It is another tough test, but I think that we have a lot of big lads in the team who will look forward to the physical side of things. We have that side to us and we also have the creative side that you saw the other night.”
Assistant manager Steve Holland has already put England on alert not to go too far in standing their ground, adding: “Keeping 11 players on the pitch is paramount… avoiding and conceding unnecessary fouls.”
Talk over potential changes to England’s starting XI ramped up on Thursday when Holland was seen clutching a team-sheet in training which appeared to indicate Raheem Sterling would be replaced in attack by Marcus Rashford.
Whether or not that switch, or Ruben LoftusCheek’s anticipated return in place of the injured Dele Alli, is already decided or merely being considered is unclear.
It does, though, place Sterling back in the spotlight having dealt with unwanted front page headlines prior to the tournament.
“I don’t think there should be any ‘noise’ around his performance the other night,” said Henderson of his former Liverpool club-mate.
“I would be surprised if that is the case, but it won’t bother him. He is used to the scrutiny now and I think he handles it all very well.
“He was phenomenal for Manchester City last season, scoring more than 20 goals. Everyone needs to get behind him if they are not.
“To score that many goals shows he is doing something right and if other players had the season he had, I think we would be talking about it a lot more than we seem to do with Raheem.”