Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson has admitted that he is playing through the pain barrier as his heel trouble continues.
The 25-year-old has suffered from the problem over the last 12 months, but despite a variety of treatments and time on the sidelines, the pain has not yet subsided.
He is still playing for club and country, however, and insists that he can manage the problem so that it does not affect him in games.
"Sometimes I can be my own worst enemy if I'm playing with an injury or different things. It's my own fault at times but that's just the way I am. I want to play football, I want to try to put myself out for the team. I feel as though now I'm starting to get back to the physicality - that's a big part of my game - and when that's correct then everything else seems to flow much better," he told reporters.
"When I was away with England I think I put in one of my highest performances of the season in terms of the physical side of the game which was pleasing for me. I got confidence from that and I just need to continue to work instead of trying to play catch up all the time. It's not an issue. After games it still gets a bit sore but it's much better than how it was. That's pleasing for me.
"I am out there, I'm playing and I can manage it. When it completely goes will be whenever I have a rest but I'm not sure if I'll have one of them any time soon. Maybe if I go to the Euros I'll have some time off after that and then after the rest hopefully it will have completely settled. Until then I just have to manage it. I felt good against Spurs and I feel better physically all the time and I'm getting back to where I want to be."
Henderson was part of the Liverpool side that drew 1-1 with Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on Saturday evening.
Barney Corkhill
