Jordan Henderson has been offered the faintest glimmer of hope that he could feature in this summer’s Euros.
The Liverpool skipper limped out of Thursday’s Europa League game in Dortmund with knee ligament damage that medics feared would rule him out for up to six months and destroy his England dreams.
But after a scan this afternoon, the news for the midfielder – whilst hardly encouraging – is at least better than he expected.
Henderson HAS damaged knee ligaments, but it is a partial tear and sprain to the Lateral Collateral Ligament at the front of the knee…and that DOESN’T require surgery.
It is an injury that typically sidelines a player for at least three months, which would rule him out of the European Championships.
But the damage is isolated to the LCL, which means if all goes well with his rest and then intensive rehabilitation, then he could be back in training within six weeks.
While that would effectively mean Henderson’s Liverpool season is over, he could just return to training by the end of the season…giving him an outside chance of making the England squad for the summer tournament.
Roy Hodgson has until May 31 to name his squad, which would give him the chance to give one of his key players a full fitness test.
But he has suggested he will pick the players he takes to France by May 12…which would leave Henderson with the task of proving his recovery is on course, before he is actually able to play again.
With England due to play Turkey on May 22, and then Australia and Portugal in friendlies at the end of the month, there IS time for the midfielder to prove his fitness.
But it is only a remote chance, and Hodgson may be inclined to take few risks with his squad, given that he has already suggested he’ll take skipper Wayne Rooney to France, even though the Manchester United striker will have played few games by then.
Liverpool’s medical team will do their best to give Henderson a chance of making the opening England game in Marseille, on June 11 against Russia, and he will begin his rehabilitation almost immediately.
But the odds are still stacked against the midfielder, who must feel cursed this season, after also suffering from a long term foot injury that has destroyed much of his campaign.
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