England midfielder Jordan Henderson has provided an update after undergoing surgery on the broken wrist he suffered during the World Cup, thanking the medical team who treated him and revealing he is now focused on supporting his teammates.
The 36-year-old underwent surgery on Wednesday after sustaining the injury in a freak accident following England's dramatic 3-2 victory over Mexico in Mexico City.
Henderson Thanks Surgeons After Successful Procedure
Henderson took to social media for the first time since the operation, confirming the procedure had been successful and expressing his gratitude to the staff at the Kansas City Orthopaedic Institute.
Posting on Instagram, he wrote: "Surgery done! Let's get ready for the big one on Saturday. Thank you to all the staff that looked after me at Kansas City Orthopaedic Institute. Especially the three surgeons who carried out the operation. Dr Kenneth P. Unruh, Dr Mark J Winston, Dr Kirk McCullough."
The experienced midfielder is now expected to join England's squad in Kansas City, where he will remain with the group ahead of Saturday's World Cup quarter-final against Norway despite being ruled out through injury.
Henderson to Provide Leadership Despite Injury
His presence around the squad is expected to provide a significant boost, with Henderson regarded as one of the senior leaders within the England camp. The former Liverpool captain has long been recognised for his influence off the pitch as well as his experience in major international tournaments.
Henderson's update prompted an outpouring of support from teammates and his club. England colleagues Marcus Rashford and Morgan Rogers both responded with heart emojis, while Brentford posted: "Speedy recovery Jordan!"
How the Injury Happened
The injury came in unfortunate circumstances after England's thrilling victory over Mexico at the Estadio Azteca, a result that secured their place in the last eight of the competition. After the final whistle, Henderson made his way towards England supporters to celebrate, jumping over advertising hoardings before falling awkwardly as he landed.
The midfielder immediately appeared to be in significant discomfort and received lengthy treatment from medical staff on the pitch. He was eventually placed on a stretcher, given oxygen and taken directly to hospital in Mexico City for further assessment.
Father Describes Horrifying TV Moment
His father, Brian Henderson, has told of the horrifying moment he realised the injury was far more serious than he had first imagined as he watched on TV back in the UK. He initially believed his son had simply taken a slight tumble during the post-match celebration but his fears grew when, while watching Harry Kane's post-match interview, he saw his son being wheeled past on a trolley surrounded by medical staff.
"At first I just thought he'd fallen," he told the Daily Mail. "I thought he'd maybe scraped his wrist. I had no idea it was that serious until they were interviewing Harry Kane and a trolley came past with Jordan on it. I could see him on there with oxygen and things. Straight away, I messaged his PA, who was over there, to try and find out what had happened. I was up all night waiting to hear the news. It's just a waiting game now."
Subsequent examinations confirmed Henderson had suffered a broken wrist, ruling him out of England's quarter-final and ending his hopes of playing any further part in the tournament. His father said he had "completely smashed his arm."
Despite his disappointment, Henderson has chosen to remain with the squad as they continue their World Cup campaign, underlining his commitment to supporting the players and coaching staff during the latter stages of the tournament.
England will now attempt to book their place in the semi-finals when they take on Norway on Saturday, with Henderson watching from the sidelines.
