Jordan Henderson, Liverpool’s captain, is facing up to two months on the sidelines after breaking a bone in his foot. The England international suffered the injury on his return to first-team training on Friday, only days after he had returned from the US, where he had undergone a procedure on a heel problem.
Henderson broke a bone in his right foot during the training session at Melwood and is expected to undergo surgery on Monday. Though a minor procedure, the midfielder is likely to be out for between six and eight weeks in what amounts to another major setback for the 25-year-old and his manager, Brendan Rodgers.
Liverpool’s captain has missed four out of six matches this season with a persistent problem in his left heel – and therefore unconnected to the latest injury – and received a series of injections to alleviate the pain in that area this week.
Rodgers had said Henderson was in contention to return in Sunday’s Premier League game at home to Norwich City following treatment abroad, only for his captain to suffer the new injury shortly afterwards.
The Liverpool manager had also stated that the return of first-team players from injury – notably Henderson and striker Daniel Sturridge – was key to lifting the team’s performance level after an underwhelming start to the season.
An eight week lay-off would result in Henderson also missing Premier League matches against Aston Villa, Everton in the first Merseyside derby of the season, Tottenham Hotspur, Southampton, Chelsea and Crystal Palace. Liverpool have a Capital One Cup fixture at home to Carlisle United plus three Europa League group games in that period.
Rodgers has deployed James Milner, Lucas Leiva and Emre Can in a three-man midfield during Henderson’s recent absence, with changes made for Thursday’s Europa League tie against Bordeaux, which ended in a 1-1 draw. The Liverpool manager has lamented a lack of creativity in Liverpool’s ranks after recent league defeats by West Ham United and Manchester United.
