Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson could miss Arsenal trip with heel problem

Liverpool captain Henderson was substituted after 52 minutes in the win over Bournemouth

JORDAN HENDERSON has admitted he must weigh up the long term risk to his fitness before deciding whether to lead Liverpool at Arsenal on Monday.

 

The Liverpool captain has been troubled by a heel problem for a “few months,” but the injury has flared since the resumption of the new season and saw him substituted after 52 minutes of Monday’s win over Bournemouth.

Henderson is being assessed on a daily basis and is a major doubt for the trip to The Emirates with Liverpool mindful of pushing him and then losing him for a number of games.

“That is the problem,” said Henderson. “If I do play what is the risk and how long could I be out potentially if I do something in the game?

“There are many factors that the manager and the medical team need to decide. I just want to hopefully play on Monday, but if I can’t I need to get fit as soon as possible.

 

“I had pains in the bottom of both feet for a few months really, but nothing too major. Then in the last 10-15 minutes of the Stoke game I felt it bad and I couldn’t really put my weight on it.

“That was the first time I really felt it and I couldn’t train for the next week but managed to play in the (Bournemouth) game.

“In the second half, it was a case where the issue was the weight-bearing again and with 40 minutes to go it was wise to bring us off.

“It has settled down over the last few days, but I don’t know what it will be like in terms of Monday. Hopefully, the pain and the symptoms die down.

 

“When everything settles down I will be ok, but I don’t know when that will be.”

Henderson’s fitness will be a concern for England coach Roy Hodgson who is already set to be without Jack Wilshere for the Euro 2016 qualifiers with San Marino and Switzerland at the start of next month.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers will also draw up a contingency plan with Lucas, who has not featured in a match-day squad as yet, likely to come back under consideration.