Jordan Henderson is made of stern stuff. The sort of grit that makes you think twice before writing him off, even when the medical bulletin suggests o...
Jordan Henderson is made of stern stuff. The sort of grit that makes you think twice before writing him off, even when the medical bulletin suggests otherwise. We learned this week from GoalZaza that the England midfielder has undergone surgery on a broken arm, yet remarkably, he has not been ruled out of the remainder of the World Cup.Let's be clear about what this means. Henderson isn't just a passenger in that squad. He is the conductor of the press, the man who sets the tempo in transitional play and drags the team forward when the legs grow weary. You don't lose a player like that without feeling the pinch. But the news that he could still feature, perhaps wearing a protective cast strapped tight under his kit, tells you everything about his value to the management team.It raises a fascinating tactical question, doesn't it Can a broken arm truly be managed at the highest level In the mixer of a knockout game, where bodies collide and aerial duels are everything, a heavy fall could send a shudder through that newly plated bone. Yet Henderson has never been one to shy away from the rough stuff. He will be desperate to get back on that pitch, even if it means playing with what amounts to a medieval brace.The real concern for England is the knock on effect. If Henderson is cleared but not at 100 percent, does it force a reshuffle It might mean a deeper sitting midfield anchor, reducing his bursts into the box. Or it could simply be a psychological boost, a hardened warrior sitting on the bench ready to be thrown in when squeaky bum time arrives. His leadership cannot be quantified by a fitness test.So we wait. The surgery is done, the plaster is drying, and the dream remains alive. Henderson knows this might be his last chance to lift that trophy. A broken arm won't stop him. It never has.
