Jordan Henderson’s World Cup is over. The 36-year-old England midfielder is expected to have surgery on a broken left wrist after a freak accident during the celebrations following Monday’s dramatic 3-2 win over Mexico at the Azteca Stadium.
Henderson slipped as he jumped over an advertising hoarding and landed awkwardly, leaving the pitch on a stretcher surrounded by medical staff. He was taken to hospital in Mexico City accompanied by a member of England’s support staff and did not travel back with the squad to their Kansas City base.
“Jordan Henderson out of World Cup with broken wrist after freak celebration injury.”
The injury threatens to sideline him for the remainder of the tournament. “Jordan just fell over and injured his wrist. It looks really bad,” England head coach Thomas Tuchel said on BBC One. “It’s a quite serious injury and it doesn’t fit to the evening that Jordan is now not with us. The doctor told me he is in hospital.”
Henderson, a Brentford midfielder, is understood to be keen to stay with the squad for the rest of their time in the United States, but his participation in Saturday’s quarter-final against Norway is now impossible. England’s defensive problems deepened when stand-in right-back Jarell Quansah was shown a straight red card following a VAR review for a reckless challenge, leaving the Three Lions down to 10 men for more than half an hour.
There is, however, some good news for Tuchel. Right-back Reece James, who missed the wins over DR Congo and Mexico with a hamstring injury, is close to fitness and could be available for the Norway clash. According to the Telegraph, James is in contention to play after giving advice to Jude Bellingham during a hydration break and celebrating in the emotional full-time scenes in Mexico City. He hopes to train before the game.
England held on heroically after Quansah’s dismissal, with Jude Bellingham scoring twice and Harry Kane adding a penalty to secure a quarter-final date with Erling Haaland’s Norway. The match was delayed by an hour due to the threat of thunder and lightning. Now, with Henderson out and defensive options stretched, Tuchel must decide whether to risk James or find another solution in Miami.