Henderson vows to go through the pain barrier
By Rory Dollard
England’s Jordan Henderson admits it can be a temptation to “battle through” injuries on the big stage.
Henderson’s midfielder team-mate Dele Alli is set to miss today’s clash with Panama after suffering a thigh complaint during the Three Lions’ Group G opener against Tunisia.
Alli first appeared to be in discomfort midway through the first half, when Fabian Delph was stripped and ready to come on, but eventually played through until the 80th minute.
Some have questioned whether the Tottenham man should have been risked once he felt pain, but Henderson knows the duelling emotions players experience.
“You know as a player when an injury is bad enough you have to come off, but I’m probably one of the worst, wanting to battle through,” he said.
“If it’s affecting performance the manager and staff will be able to see. You have to be careful and know in your own body when it’s serious enough to put your hand up and come off.”
Gareth Southgate agreed on Henderson’s willingness to push the pain barrier, but revealed it had cost him an occasional ear-bashing from Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.
“What happens is Hendo plays through and I get a noisy call from Jurgen saying, ‘Why the hell didn’t you take him off?’” Southgate revealed.
Henderson and company now know victory over the Central Americans, who are ranked 55th in the world by FIFA, will be enough to book a place in the last 16 of the tournament after Belgium defeated Tunisia 5-2 in an entertaining clash in Moscow.
“We were flying, so didn’t see it, but it was a very good result for Belgium to go top of the group,” Henderson said.
“It was obviously a good game, a lot of goals. I’m sure for the fans it was a very good game to watch but we have to focus on ourselves and win our game to go level with them.”
Henderson also had his say on VAR. The review system has been used to good effect on several occasions, but did not work in England’s favour when Harry Kane was manhandled in the box in Volgograd last week.
“I like it when it goes our way, so, hopefully, I’ll like it against Panama,” he said.
“I suppose it gives the referees a better chance of getting the correct decision. I saw against Brazil it came into good effect when Neymar got the penalty and then
the referee changed his mind. That was a good decision.
“Hopefully, it’s fair and both teams get the best of the system.”
Meanwhile, former England manager Roy Hodgson believes Ruben LoftusCheek, expected to take Dele Alli’s place this afternoon, has “more strings to his bow” than former Germany great, Michael Ballack, and tipped the Chelsea youngster to take his World Cup chance.
The 22-year-old has shown glimpses of star quality in his five international appearances to date, and Hodgson is confident he will not be daunted on the world stage.
“I do think he’s ready, yes, definitely, 100%,” the Crystal Palace boss said.
Hodgson saw Loftus-Cheek at close quarters last season, with the highlyrated midfielder spending the entire campaign on loan at Palace.
And though he has been likened to former Chelsea and Germany great Ballack in the past, Hodgson thinks a more accurate comparison would be another England midfielder, Jack Wilshere.
“I’d say he goes by people more than Ballack did. I think he’s got Ballack’s power and his pace and his strength – he definitely has that,” Hodgson added.
“But he’s maybe got more strings to his bow than even Ballack had. That’s a bold thing to say, I know, but he’s so good at going past people. He’s got that deceptive turn of pace.
“In that way he’s a bit like Jack Wilshere, that ability to receive a ball in tight situations and then come out very quickly on the other side and open a game up.
“Ruben can twist and turn his way out of tight situations and open a game up.
“I think he can add more goals to his game. I’m sure he will as time goes on.”