Jordan Henderson is warned: It can still go wrong

Nov 19 2009 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

JORDAN Henderson has been warned he could still end up on the football scrapheap if he falls into bad habits despite an excellent start to the season with Sunderland.

Henderson’s emergence has been one of the major plus points under Steve Bruce and he has regularly been on the receiving end of a string of superlatives from his manager and Sunderland team-mates alike.

But the young midfielder still has plenty to prove and he has been given a timely reminder from Phil Bardsley that he can just as quickly lose everything he has done so well to gain with the Black Cats.

Bardsley once believed he would go on to become a regular in the Manchester United team having progressed with distinction through the Red Devils Academy system.

But the full-back never made the grade at Old Trafford and has only established himself at Sunderland through hard work, grit and determination – and he expects Henderson to show the same.

“Jordan is another one who, when he is on the pitch, he is a winner,” said Bardsley, who knows that he could be in for a busy afternoon when free-flowing Arsenal arrive at the Stadium of Light this weekend.

“He has come through the Academy and he has had that instilled in him from Kevin Ball.

“Jordan’s attitude has been spot on and he has done himself and his family proud.

“He is an energetic lad, he can play and get about the pitch. He shows no fear and if he keeps showing the performances he has

done then he will have a terrific career.

“It’s up to him to look after himself and he has to make sure he does not get dragged away from the direction he is heading in. You need consistency and determination to carry on where you have left off.

“Some players think they have played ten or 15 games and think they have cracked it. That’s not the case. When you have played 150 games, 200 then maybe you’re getting there.

“You have to make sure you have the right character that makes sure you don’t get dragged away to things that can take your eye off the ball game.