Jordan Henderson must prove statistician's right as he fills void left by Frank Lampard in England squad Henderson has all the attributes to be the champion of those who believe football is as much science as art. He is a natural athlete and covers more yardage on a football pitch than most of his team-mates. His possession stats are equally impressive as he rarely gives the ball away. He also possesses balance, an excellent first touch and he has occasionally shown himself a capable finisher. The trouble for those who have watched Henderson during his inauspicious debut season at Anfield is there is a chasm between the statistical data and his influence on a game. Those boundless runs have rarely taken him into opposition territory. The pass completion rate does not take into account that much of his distribution is a six-yard, safe pass back to a centre-half or full-back, and although he has sporadically looked the part, he has mostly resembled the winning bunny in a startled look competition. His greatest shield against criticism is his age and the fact that, beneath the evidently insecure exterior, there is no reason why he cannot locate the end product to a game which, thus far, has been conservative with a capital "c." Henderson has not been helped on Merseyside by being over-employed in a wide midfield role in which he was unsuited. His most effective performances were in a central role when he was urged to run beyond opposing defences. His goal against Chelsea in Liverpool's final home game was the surest evidence of his capabilities. There comes a point in every youngster's career when promise must give way to delivery. Henderson has so far struggled to make the transition at Anfield. The leap into tournament football, especially at the expense of a world-class performer such as Lampard, is the moment for Henderson to start producing fully rounded performances rather than exquisite statistical data.