All killer, no filler as Hibs’ Henderson finally takes out his target
AFTER emphatically ending St Mirren’s hopes with an exquisite finish, Ewan Henderson is eager to answer Lee Johnson’s demand to become a serial ‘killer’ of matches.
The 22-year-old sparkled as Hibs ended a three-game losing streak and rose to third place in the Premiership.
Precise and inventive in his passing, a skilfully-guided strike beyond Trevor Carson confirmed a richly merited win. It also provided a reminder of Henderson’s abundant technical gifts.
Johnson sees them daily in training. But after three goals in the League Cup group stage, the midfielder lost his way. His output became a little too bland for his manager’s tastes. Six games passed without him making the starting line-up.
‘That’s probably the one I’ve been most frustrated with,’ said Johnson of Henderson.
‘He was probably one of the first picks on the team sheet in preseason and then had an excellent first league game against St Johnstone.
‘I am just looking for that killer instinct and he showed it. We have been demanding him to be a killer and he was.
‘There could have been even more. There was a good opportunity in the first half. Then there were a couple of through balls that a player of his quality should execute.
‘Maybe I am being harsh, but that is where I see him. Sometimes, if a manager is not on you, not pushing you to be the best, then you are probably on your way out.
‘Whereas with him, I expect and demand a lot and I am not accepting mediocrity from a player of his talent.’
Those words chime with the player. Brought up at Celtic and the younger brother of Empoli midfielder Liam Henderson — a Scottish Cup hero at Easter Road — he is determined to fulfil his potential under Johnson’s guidance.
‘I agree with the gaffer,’ he said. ‘I’ve not been at my best this season. I started off well and then dipped a bit in form.
‘After today I’ll have a bit more confidence in my game. I like the way the gaffer wants us to play. It suits my style as well. I just need to keep my head down in training, keep working hard and hopefully keep scoring goals.
‘I’m always going to be harsh on myself because I know what I am capable of. Hopefully I can continue doing what I did today and see where it goes.’ Henderson can also feed off advice from the more experienced Joe Newell.
They dove-tailed superbly against St Mirren, vying for accolade of best player on the pitch as Hibs established control of midfield. ‘Joe is a top player,’ said Henderson. ‘I’m close with him off the pitch as well. ‘He helps me every day in training. He’s always speaking to me, on and off the pitch, about things I could do better and how I can improve.
Everyone knows how good a player he is.’ That was apparent after six minutes. Newell’s sublime through ball bisected the visitors’ defence and found the overlapping Marijan Cabraja. His low cross was converted by Mykola Kukharevych, but VAR soon confirmed Cabraja had strayed offside. St Mirren pushed back. David Marshall made important saves from Jonah Ayunga and Curtis Main, while Henderson curled wide and Carson thwarted Martin Boyle at the opposite end.
Another VAR intervention on the stroke of half-time lifted Hibs into an ascendancy they maintained.
Ref Don Robertson was called to the pitchside monitor and agreed Richard Tait had handled Chris Cadden’s shot. Penalty. Boyle stepped up to send Carson the wrong way.
The winger would only last nine minutes of the second period after an accidental collision. Johnson admitted he was ‘praying’ the issue — around Boyle’s shin — didn’t affect his place in Australia’s World Cup squad.
With Elias Melkersen introduced, Hibs remained on the front foot. Henderson played a tempting pass ahead of Kukharevych, pitching him against Alex Gogic. The St Mirren defender was brushed aside as the Ukrainian arrowed in his second goal in two games.
It was 3-0 on 67 minutes. Melkersen’s shot was blocked, sending the ball spinning to the edge of the area. Henderson closed in and nonchalantly placed it high beyond the despairing Carson.
For St Mirren, it emphasised a recent contrast between home and away form. Admitting their display ‘wasn’t good enough,’ midfielder Keanu Baccus also took no pleasure in seeing Boyle depart.
Baccus made his senior international debut for Australia last month as he looks to edge into Graham Arnold’s World Cup plans.
‘Martin is a great player and I was sad to see him go off,’ said Baccus. ‘It’s worrying because he’s a great player and a big player for Australia. Hopefully, he will be okay.
‘It’s not a nice thing to go through an injury at any time, but especially with a World Cup coming up.
‘For me, I can’t worry about that. I have to play my game on the front-foot. I love to play that style.
‘I have faith that I’ll be able to stay fit and healthy. You can’t think of the worst-case scenario.’