Photo: Liverpool star tells Jon Flanagan to ‘keep working hard’

Jordan Henderson appears to be settling into his leadership role in the Liverpool squad after he told Jon Flanagan to “keep working hard’ as the full-back nears a return from injury.

The 21-year-old defender hasn’t featured for the Merseyside outfit this season after the promising Liverpool youngster suffered a serious knee injury in the summer.

Flanagan is on the final part of his rehabilitation from knee surgery ahead of his battle to win a starting spot in the wake of competition from Alberto Moreno and Lazar Markovic at wing-back.

But Henderson, who was made Liverpool vice-captain at the start of the season, had to remind Flanagan to take off his heart monitor following what must have been a demanding session.

Henderson posted the above photo and wrote: “Keep working hard lad, but you can take your heart rate monitor off now. Nearly there! @jonflan38”

The 21-year-old was on standby for Roy Hodgson’s England squad for this summer’s World Cup after a series of impressive performances for the Reds.

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Flanagan, who was part of the Reds’s League Cup-winning squad in 2012, scored one goal in 25 Premier League appearances last season.