Last month it looked like Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson’s chances of making the England squad for the European Championships in France this summer were all but over after he suffered a serious knee injury that was expected to keep him sidelined for up to eight weeks, but the Sunderland born and bred midfielder returned to action quicker than expected and was able to make cameo appearances in the Reds final two matches of the season. After meeting up with the provisional Three Lions squad, he came off the bench in the narrow 2-1 win over Turkey and he’s got his eye on more game time ahead of their final two friendlies before the final team is announced.
“I am still proving (my fitness),” explained Henderson, speaking ahead of the meeting with Australia on Friday. “I still feel as though this week I trained well and I feel good. Getting some minutes at the weekend was a bonus for me really so I am hoping that can put us in good stead for the game,” he continued. “Hopefully I can get more minutes, get my match sharpness back, if you like, and hopefully keep progressing,” he said, before adding, “Come the first game of the Euros, hopefully I am on that plane and ready to go.”
Coming off the back of an injury plagued campaign for the Anfield outfit, Henderson will have a point to prove in France this summer, and he’ll be hoping to do it with fellow Liverpool man Daniel Sturridge in the side. The striker, who finally returned to action for an extended period of time after spending the better part of the last two years on the treatment table, suffered a calf injury since meeting up with England and is now a doubt to make the final cut as Three Lions boss Roy Hodgson trims down his provisional squad to 23-players.
“He’ll be disappointed,” conceded Henderson when asked about Sturridge’s injury. “Obviously he’ll want to be playing some part in the next couple of games before the tournament. He has just got to make sure he is doing everything he can to get fit,” he said, very much echoing the challenge that faces him as well. “I am sure he will be and hopefully he can be involved in this game tomorrow, if not the game after that and play some part and show he is ready to go to the Euros.”
