Steven Gerrard says a chat with Jordan Henderson and his family in the midfielder's early days at Liverpool helped put him on the road to Reds success.
Henderson would eventually succeed Gerrard as Liverpool captain, and he will be the Reds skipper that lifts the club's first top-flight title in 30 years at some point following the resumption of the season.
It hasn't been a smooth ride for all of Henderson's Liverpool career though, and he was famously almost shipped off to Fulham by Brendan Rodgers at the end of his first season with the Reds.
Gerrard says the former Sunderland youngster deserves all the success he gets though.
“I remember him coming in as a shy young lad from Sunderland. I had a good conversation with his parents in the players’ lounge in the old Main Stand at Anfield," Gerrard told The Athletic.
“They were concerned that their son was leaving the nest and moving to such a big city and such a big club at such a young age. I think people underestimate the size of that move for a kid who was Sunderland through and through. He needed help and he needed support.
“It was always going to be a journey of ups and downs, bumps and bruises, highs and lows, like the majority of careers are.
"I know Jordan more than most and I know what he’s put in. I know how hard he has fought, how hard he has worked, the shifts that he has put in and how much he helps other people.
“I know more than most what it will mean to him and what it will mean to his family when he lifts that trophy. I am so proud of him and the selfless way in which he’s put himself in this position.
“I never had any doubts. A lot of fans and a lot of people don’t see what goes on behind the scenes to get himself in this position. He deserves every bit of success that he gets. I’m so happy for him, the team and also myself as a fan.”
