The captain believes the ever popular Flanagan is deserving of a new contract
Whilst he may have had to sit out the Capital One Cup final on Sunday, Reds full-back, and good friend of Brazilian legend Cafu, Jon Flanagan is still a favourite of Liverpool fans for his hugely entertaining and buccaneering displays during our ‘almost’ season a few years ago.
Flanagan has had to sit out the past 20 months through injury but returned recently and impressed once again in a handful cup matches. And his captain has stated that the club have to offer the Englishman a new contract.
Speaking following the cup final defeat (via the Liverpool Echo), Henderson said: “It’s huge that it gets sorted out.
“I don’t think players and people like Flanno grow on trees to be honest.
“You have people like him and Stevie and Carra who have come through the Academy. The fans feel as though they are one of them really which they are.
“His whole family supports Liverpool. He has been a Liverpool supporter since he was a kid and he has had a difficult time for the last two years, but what I have seen him do behind the scenes is incredible really.
“He is a huge player for us, a huge player for the club and the fans as well. It is in everyone’s interests for that to be sorted out soon.”
Whilst it’s a nice sentiment from Henderson, it is ultimately up to Jurgen Klopp and the club’s hierarchy as to whether the local lad is deemed good enough to keep, and Klopp will want to have a closer look at the defender as the season winds into its final hectic three months.
One thing that you can be sure of is the Scouser will be afforded every opportunity to win himself that new contract. And with the shocking display of inept defending from Moreno on Sunday, he may well find that chance starting tomorrow night against Manchester City.
Henderson continued: “I’ve seen how hard he has been working and the attitude he has had with the injury.
“I was only out for three or four months but that felt long for me and it was difficult for me to handle because I had never experienced that length of time out.
“But for the injury he had and how long he was out, it was incredible the way he went about it.
“Every day in here he came in with a smile on his face, did his work and for me you need to be rewarding people like that for what he done.
“Now he’s back and the games he has played it is as if he has never been away. He has been brilliant and in training he’s exactly the same.”
Has Flanagan’s work whilst out ensured he’s offered a new contract, or should Klopp be allowed a longer look at the defender first? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
