Jordan Henderson is a major doubt for England’s Euro 2020 campaign after Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp conceded that the midfielder will not play again during the club season.
Klopp said he felt there was still “a chance” Henderson would be fit for this summer’s tournament, but the news will be discouraging for Gareth Southgate, who will now have to make a decision over whether to include the 30-year-old in his squad without having seen him return to action.
Henderson has not played since suffering a groin injury in the 2-0 defeat to Everton in mid-February.
“Hendo doesn’t play and doesn’t train normally with us so that is a decision between Gareth and Hendo but I think there is a chance for sure,” said the Liverpool manager. “Unfortunately not for us but for England. Hendo’s not out [of Euro 2020] yet.
“It will probably be around the last week when he will have the chance to train with us but he will have been out too long to play for us.
“He would be completely fit and what makes it really different to all other English players probably, maybe Declan Rice as well, is that he would be properly rested.
“That means Hendo will have a proper pre-season for the Euros if everything works to plan. He is not out of that.”
The former Sunderland man has been a key part of Southgate’s England sides, starting every game of the 2018 World Cup campaign, bar the group stage dead rubber and third-place playoff, both against Belgium.
His absence would be a major blow for Southgate, with fellow central midfielder Declan Rice also struggling with injury, though he is closing on a return and could feature for West Ham against Brighton on Saturday.
One factor in Henderson’s favour may be Uefa’s decision to implement expanded 26-man squads for the tournament, which could give Southgate the flexibility to take a gamble on his fitness.
