Hibs have made Liam harder
Liam Henderson. LIAM HENDERSON reckons getting battered in the Championship last season has toughened him up perfectly to be part of Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic.
The new Hoops manager will demand his players be aggressive in their pressing of the ball when not in possession.
That’s not a quality which has always been associated with Henderson, but he insists Hibs have made him harder.
“I’ve improved a lot,” said the 20-year-old, whose loan spell at Easter Road included playing a key role in the Scottish Cup triumph.
“The Championship is a roughand-tumble league, and it was very competitive. I got battered and kicked all over the place, but I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it and learned a lot.
“The aim was for me to go to Hibs and play big games, and I did exactly that. I’ve a lot to thank Alan Stubbs and John Doolan for.
“The Scottish Cup Final was a brilliant day, but there was also the League Cup Final, an Edinburgh derby plus the games against Rangers. They were a great bunch and what we achieved together was special.
“My focus now has to be on Celtic, and what I have learned will stand me in good stead. I’ve come back tougher and with a more experienced head.”
Henderson doesn’t shy away from the fact midfield is the most competitive area in the Celtic side.
He admits: “There are moreexperienced and older midfielders than me at the club – guys like Scott Brown, Stefan Johansen, Tom Rogic, Nir Bitton and Scott Allan.
“That’s a positive and I’ll try to learn as much as I can off these guys. And this is a fresh start for everybody under a new manager.
“We’ll all be out to impress Brendan Rodgers in training and in the pre-season games.
“To have a manager of his standard is brilliant for all of us. The work he’s been doing in training, all the new ideas, has been different class.”
Rodgers wants to get some of the younger members of his squad out on loan, and Henderson could be a candidate.
He says: “It will be whatever the manager decides. I’m just going to work as I hard as I can.”