The fall and rise of Jordan Henderson - and the player he actually resembles

Let’s be realistic about his abilities. Comparing the man to Gerrard (as the captain himself optimistically did) is counter-productive. We’ve already seen what misplaced expectations can do to a player (for example Nani-Ronaldo). Henderson does not possess that kind of vision, shooting ability or sheer raw talent. Dropping deeper, he’s no Roy Keane or Patrick Vieira either. And comparisons with long-ball wizard Xabi Alonso are way off.

So does Henderson belong to a template?

To categorize players is to encourage lazy thinking, but an intelligent comparison is possible – not with the legends he is expected to replace, but with the senior player he is more likely to resemble.

Jordan Henderson is the next James Milner - an aggressive, intelligent, physically tough player prepared to burst his lungs (and someone else’s too, if need be) with his massive work rate; a player whose importance to his team lies in what he allows others to accomplish.

Such players are usually permanent fixtures in the first team, no matter what their technical ability or goal-scoring record are like, because their solidity and stamina allow the more creative forces alongside to find an outlet. Milner provides the supply for David Silva to run amok. It is hoped that Henderson will do the same for Luis Suarez when he returns. Currently, he plays behind Iago Aspas and gives the Spaniard – still unaccustomed to the pace of the Premier League – the confidence to go forward without having to watch his back. And most importantly, Henderson is growing with every match.

Conclusion

Football fans have a natural tendency to go over the top, so I’d urge caution amongst the Kop faithful. Henderson has done well, but there’s still a long way to go before he becomes the classy midfielder we all expect. At the same time, those with unrealistic demands would do well to assess him for what he can become, not what they want him to become. For me, Henderson is still defined by his goal against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in January 2013, where he bloody-mindedly won two individual battles to score Liverpool’s second of the night.

As in the case of Theo Walcott, another young British talent rediscovering himself, Henderson must be allowed to grow to a level where he can meet fan expectations instead of the other way around. But as his performances get better and better, those expectations are only going to rise. This time, I think he will be ready to meet them.