Henderson channels Gerrard for club and country

Liverpool's England midfielder Jordan Henderson believes "there will never be another Steven Gerrard", but he is determined to ensure that his club-mate's legacy lives on through his own performances. Gerrard retired from international duty last year and will leave Liverpool at the end of the season, with Henderson, 24, the leading candidate to succeed him as captain at Anfield. The former Sunderland midfielder is now a central figure for both club and country, and while he is dismissive of suggestions he is being groomed as Gerrard's replacement, he cites the 34-year-old as a major influence. "I've learnt a lot from Stevie," Henderson told journalists during a briefing earlier this week. "When I first came to the club, he was brilliant with me. When I wasn't playing so much, he was just the same, helping me on the field with what I needed to do and improve on. "And also off the field, he's brilliant. He's just got this sort of presence about him, that real leadership. He's just a real humble person as well, which is amazing really, for all the young players at Liverpool. "I'm sure everybody there has learnt a lot from him." On how he has used Gerrard's example as a template during his recent stint as stand-in Liverpool captain, Henderson adds: "I think I always try to lead by example. "I've taken on more responsibility as I've matured and it's something I'm relishing, taking the responsibility and helping the young lads coming through, making them feel good about themselves and making the group really tight, which it is. "That's the same when I go away with England. I'm one of the older ones now and I have to take more responsibility on and off the pitch. That's what I try and do." - 'Keep believing' - Whereas the swaggering Gerrard appeared destined for greatness from the formative days of his Liverpool career, Henderson has had to overcome early scepticism about his ability. He looked out of his depth on his England debut, a 2-1 friendly defeat at home to France in November 2010, and describes the experience as "disappointing". His move to Liverpool seven months later also proved fraught and when current manager Brendan Rodgers joined the club the following year, Henderson was told that he was surplus to requirements. But he rejected a transfer to Fulham and having subsequently forced his way into the team -- playing a central role in last season's thrilling tilt at the Premier League title -- he is able to look back on the period with pride. "I've always thought you'll go through difficult times in life, really, and certainly in your career," he said. "You've just got to keep believing and be true to yourself and keep working as hard as you possibly can. I think belief is the biggest thing. "If you can overcome what everybody else says or thinks about you, if you have belief in yourself, then you can get through that and get through anything. "I always felt if I kept working as hard as everyone else and kept improving, I could have an important part to play at Liverpool, even when I first went there. I continue to do that. It's the same with England." Following Friday's 4-0 win over Lithuania in Euro 2016 qualifying, Henderson's next assignment is against Italy, who England play in a friendly in Turin on Tuesday. Henderson has never beaten Italy -- falling foul of the Azzurri at Euro 2012, the 2013 Under-21 European Championship and last year's World Cup -- but if any England player knows the value of perseverance, it is him.