Henderson’s Italian Job is certain to have a Dark Blue ending
Liam Henderson’s former boss, Fabio Grosso, has backed the midfielder to make good on his pledge to one day make the Scotland team. The 24-year-old, a Scottish Cup-winning hero with Hibs in 2016 and a League Cup winner with Celtic a year earlier, has already represented the country at four age groups, including the Under-21s. Having swapped his homeland for a playing career in Italy – in 2019 he became the first Scot to play in Serie A since Graeme Souness at Sampdoria back in the mid-1980s – he has set his sights on completing the set. That was for Hellas Verona. More recently, he has been playing on an extended loan with Empoli in Serie B, and in midweek they lost out on a chance of promotion to the top flight in a play-off tie with Chievo Verona. That step down has drawn comparisons with the progress being made by his younger brother, Ewan. Only 20, he has already played for Celtic’s first-team and completed a loan with Ross County. He featured in the Hoops’ pre-season games, and is tipped by the Glasgow giants’ coaching team to have big season ahead. But Grosso, a World Cup winner who took Liam Henderson to Verona before moving on to manage Brescia, is convinced the elder brother’s career remains on track. “Liam is still young, and in certain situations he needs to be protected, and not put under too much pressure,” he said. “Empoli are a good team, and I think they can be a springboard for the future of his career. “I was lucky enough to train Liam at both Bari and in Verona, and it was a pleasure because he is a great guy, one I respect both as a player and as a man. “He has a great technique and a lot of grit. “On the pitch, he is someone who makes himself heard, a fighter who is able to win possession for the team but can also launch attacks. “So when Bari went bankrupt and he made the decision to come to me in Verona, I was very happy because I knew I could count on an excellent player. “As I say, he is still very young, he can and must improve. But the foundations for growth are all there. “I hope that in the coming seasons, he will find coaches who know how best to bring out his enormous potential.” And if that happens, Grosso is sure that recognition will come for a midfielder who is one of the few Scots to look to make a living away from the UK. “The way Liam moves on the pitch, I could compare him to several great players,” he said. “You watch him play and you get the same feeling of time and space. “In my opinion, he has a great future – one which will involve the Scottish national team. “I wish him a great career and hope he will achieve all the goals he sets himself. “He was my player for two seasons, and I will always cheer for him.”