When England head into a second World Cup game of the summer against Panama on Sunday, Gareth Southgate is expected to keep Jordan Henderson in the team.

His rise from academy graduate to £20m midfielder, to Liverpool captain and now England regular, has been incredible, and the result of tremendous hard work.

Chief football writer Paul Fraser charts the making of the former Sunderland midfielder.

THE SCHOOLBOY

Henderson was born in Sunderland and honed his skills playing in West Park, while he attended Farringdon School. Dave Robinson was Henderson’s PE teacher at Farringdon and his football coach during those years there too, and the pair have stayed in touch since.

Robinson said: “I’m just so proud of what he has gone on to achieve. It’s fantastic for him, for his family and everyone at Farringdon.

“He deserves great credit for the enormous work he has put in to get where he has. He has always been like that. He was always the type of lad that would just play anywhere and work hard.

“He always stood out in the team, but was happy to play anywhere to help his team-mates and friends. He just loved playing football and had this desire to constantly improve – and that has stayed with him.

“I had him in my Year 9, 10 and 11 team. I could never fault his attitude. He just always wanted to learn. He always had something extra. He was a super lad when he was at Farringdon and still is.

“His team won the league and cup double at Under-16s. It was a lovely group to be the coach of and Jordan was such a key part of that. He might not have been the captain, because we used to give others the opportunity to grow in to the role too, but he was always leading with his attitude.”

THE ACADEMY YEARS

He joined his hometown club’s academy aged eight. He signed his first professional contract in 2008 after impressing all of his youth team coaches and was under the watchful eye of Kevin Ball from Under Under-16s to the 21s. He was part of the same age group as Martyn Waghorn and Jack Colback and didn’t initially develop like those two.

Kevin Ball: “I said when he was 17 he would play for England, I have never changed my mind on that. I said to Scott Pearson, a sports psychologist, at the time, ‘I tell you he will’. The day he made his debut for England Scott said ‘you were right'.

“Everybody played a part at Sunderland, from the coaches to the nutritionists, everyone. Carlton Fairweather and Elliot Dickman, and one or two others, coached him before me, and they all played a big part in his development and have played a big part in his future.

“Everyone always backed Jordan’s attitude and ability. He wasn’t a great size at the time, not the biggest, aesthetically and physically, because he was relatively slight for his age. The bit that surpassed all that was his attitude and ability-wise he was unbelievable.

“He was infectious on those around him, even in a race he knew he would lose he would do everything to win it. He just didn’t accept anything it.

“He has undoubted football ability but has this desire too, an undoubted love of the game. He’s a very skilful player, sees things I couldn’t see. I remember in national final at 17 and he turned in the middle of the park and it was one of the most brilliant pieces of skill I had seen by anyone … it was Jordan who did it. It was a learning curve for me because I knew then I had to let him express himself in the middle.

“He does an exceptional job for England and Liverpool, some might say he should do this or that, but he is being so professional and realises what he does and he does it very well.

“I watched him the other night for England and I am saying ‘go on’ because I know he can. But I will always admire him for the fact he does his job and he does it very well. He is all about self-sacrifice. Every knock he gets, he says ‘I will show you’.”

SUNDERLAND FIRST TEAM

Henderson made his debut as a half-time substitute at Chelsea with Sunderland trailing 3-0 and heading for a five-goal drubbing in November 2008 under Roy Keane, he was sent out on loan for the rest of the season to Coventry, where he played under Chris Coleman in the Championship and ended with a metatarsal problem.

The next two seasons he became a key player under Steve Bruce at the Stadium of Light, as he developed into a £20m player.

Bruce spotted his hunger: "All Jordan cares about is football, he eats, sleeps and breathes it. Long may that continue, but I have a feeling it will. He's never given anyone a moment's trouble and I wouldn't believe it if I heard he'd been caught up in something off the field."

And Ball recalled: “When he played against Chelsea, when he was being played on the right, I remember he was asked to do a job by Steve Bruce and stop Ashley Cole. Afterwards Ashley, in his pomp at the time, said he was the only player who stayed toe-to-toe with him and stopped him.”

It was actually Keane who handed Henderson that first team opportunity at Stamford Bridge.

Henderson remembered: “Roy was a huge part of me getting my chance as a footballer. He gave me my debut at Sunderland and had a huge impact. I can never really repay him for that.

“To work under him, knowing what he was as a player was amazing, really. Hopefully there will be time to see him after the game.

“He taught me a lot. I was a young lad coming into the first team and didn’t tell me specifics but he could see how hard I worked. I hope he saw a bit of quality in there too. I can never repay him for giving me an opportunity.”

THE LIVERPOOL MAN

After shining for Sunderland and having made an England appearance, Kenny Dalglish persuaded Liverpool to pay £20m for his services in June 2011 when scouts were attending games regularly to weigh up a bid.

There was a period when it looked like a waste of money because he could have been sold to Fulham, in a part exchange deal involving Clint Dempsey. The following season Brendan Rodgers ended up understanding more what Henderson was about and he has never looked back.

Henderson said: “Brendan called me in and said ‘Listen, this is the offer’ and he asked me what I thought. It implied to me that he would let me leave and it was up to me. I went back to my room. I shed a few tears. I ended up crying a little bit because it hurt so much. I had the game that night to think about it as well.

“I spoke to my agent and told him what had happened and I said I didn’t want to go. I wanted to stay and fight and try and improve and try to prove the manager wrong. My agent agreed. I spoke to my dad. He was gutted but he backed my decision to stay and fight.

“I was young enough to get my head down, keep working hard, do my extra bits and prove them wrong and I feel I managed to do that by the time Brendan left.

“There are always those moments in football — and life in general — which can decide the path and the route you go down. For me it was never an option to leave.”

Henderson then went on to be named Steven Gerrard’s successor as captain at Anfield, and was close to lifting the Champions League last month.

Gerrard said: “It’s no surprise to me. He’s had his criticism over the years, Jordan, but obviously I’ve worked very closely with him and not only is he a fabulous player, he’s a great kid as well.

“He’s someone who works so hard at his game, stays behind all the time after training, working on every single department of his game.

“He’s always in the gym, he lives his life for the game, so it’s great to see him doing so well and I think he’s going to keep growing and growing and become a top player.”

NOW THE ENGLAND MAN ...

Henderson has established himself on the international stage. Even though Gareth Southgate has handed the England armband to Harry Kane, Henderson remains a key figure and a leader in the dressing room. He should start his second World Cup game in a row against Panama, earning his 41st cap.

Southgate said: “I think we know about all the leaders in the group. With Jordan, obviously he’s one of the few guys that captains his club or has captained his club so he’s comfortable in that role.

“He’s comfortable in speaking up for the group. He has a mindset for the collective, not just self and that’s obviously a hugely important attribute for a captain to have. I thought he has worked the game out very well."

Henderson said: “I was still with Sunderland at the time of my first cap in 2010, and I remember getting the text to let me know that I was going to be called up to the squad - it was a Friday night and I was in a hotel in London because we were playing Chelsea the next day. I felt excited, but also a bit nervous, to be joining up for the first time with some of those big players.

“But I loved every minute of being in the squad, getting involved in training and spending time as part of the group. After the match, I felt disappointed by the loss, but most of all motivated - motivated to do all I could to keep my place in the squad and show what I was capable of.

“Leading up to the Euros in 2012, I wasn't expecting to make the squad. I had been at the camp, but had missed the cut. I left hoping to be considered for the squad two years later in Brazil. At the time though, I was due to head to Mexico for a holiday with my mates.

“I was over the moon to get the opportunity to go and play in a big tournament for England after (Frank Lampard had to withdraw). My mates weren't so happy! I parted ways with them in London and hopped in a cab to the team hotel to meet up with the side before they took off for Krakow, Poland.”

Henderson has never looked back.