Gerrard: Jordan will make a great captain
Steven Gerrard insists Jordan Henderson has earned the respect of the Liverpool dressing room and that his teammate has all the qualities to become a strong leader of the side.
Since Gerrard confirmed last Friday his decision to bring a glittering 17-year Reds career to its conclusion at the end of the season, questions have been posed from all quarters as to who can fill his formidable boots at Anfield.
Brendan Rodgers spoke on Saturday of Henderson's leadership abilities and explained how the decision to install him as deputy earlier in this campaign was made with a view to developing such potential further.
Gerrard, who confirmed yesterday he will join LA Galaxy in the summer, also gave a glowing appraisal of the No.14, explaining why he'd have no qualms about handing over the armband to Henderson.
"I certainly believe Jordan has everything you need to be a great captain," he told the Liverpool Echo. "He's a fantastic professional who tries to lead by example in every training session and in every game.
"He has really grown as a player and is improving all the time with experience. He can become a great captain for this club. He's a fantastic player for me to hand the armband over to. I've got great respect for Jordan Henderson and I know everyone else at the club feels the same."
Henderson spoke at length about how he learned from Gerrard in a recent interview with BBC Football Focus, detailing the manner in which the No.8 helped him through a tough period at the start of his Reds career.
Having switched from Sunderland, the 24-year-old endured a testing spell; however, the skipper recognised his dedication to the Liverpool cause and was therefore keen to help his younger colleague settle, offering pointers and boosting confidence.
"Initially, it was very difficult for Jordan," said Gerrard. "He was a Sunderland boy and moving to Liverpool was his first time out of the area. It was a big move at a young age.
"Playing for Liverpool, with all the pressure and expectation, is tough. It's a very demanding club. Jordan stayed and toughed it out. It's in difficult situations like that you learn a lot about the type of player and the type of character someone is.
"He knuckled down and worked even harder. He's a true professional and a very strong character. Every day he's in the gym doing extra work. He doesn't drink and he looks after himself. He has made a lot of sacrifices to play well for this club."