In the days leading up to the trip to Belgrade he had been instructed to place more emphasis on his own goal scoring targets. His first major involvement in the game was to do just that. James McLean went down just outside the box and when the referee pointed to the spot, it was Robbie Brady and Jeff Hendrick who stood over the ball.
Although this particular set piece involvement was a dummy run to the edge of the box – where he eventually scored from – Hendrick’s position over the ball indicates his management’s faith in him as a dead ball striker.
As the ball from Brady bounced from keeper to John O’Shea to Shane Long, it fell finally into the path of Hendrick. Although it arrived at a difficult angle, Hendrick was able to manoeuvre his body to turn and strike with his left boot towards the bottom corner of the goal. Not an easy technique to execute but a clean connection; the ball bouncing under the body of Rajkovic, aided slightly by a deflection off Chealsea’s Ivanovic. Hendrick turned to celebrate his first senior international goal for Ireland.
Watch Hendrick’s movement off the ball and it is instantly clear that the words “hard worker” will always accompany his player profile. He closes quickly, presses well and doesn’t appear to ever slack. Hendrick is tall (six foot one), but this hinders his defensive agility in no way.
The defensive work of a midfielder often goes unnoticed, until they actually win the ball or make a key interception. While the majority of Hendrick’s contribution was to screen and press, he won the ball back more times than any of his midfield counterparts.
Minor moments in the game called upon commentators to repeat the words “presence” and “strength”. A few notable interceptions were made in the middle third, one namely an electric change of pace in the first half to rescue a misjudged pass from Brady.
His strength in the air was seen on occasion, and was particularly unlucky in the 26thminute to be deemed a little too headstrong as he leapt into the air to contest the ball with Filip Mladenovic. Hendrick’s distraught expression reflective of his own opinion to be shown yellow.
In the seconds before the alleged foul was committed deep in Serbia’s half, Hendrick was in fact the furthest player back in Ireland’s defence as he assisted Irish repossession of the ball. Another indication of his box to box ability.
No doubt the Irish number 13 will look back on the game and be somewhat rueful of the lack of actual time on the ball that the Irish midfield could gather. In the first half, Hendrick himself got very little time in possession. One attempted long ball was given away, the other a more characteristic move; a run past his opponent and attempted sidefoot into the run of Long. In the dying minutes another better moment as he held off two defenders to deliver a decent ball into the box.
In the second half, one or two short passes were made. His highlight of possession probably his skip past the Serbian left full with twenty minutes remaining, which originated with an innovative run up the right touchline. A beautifully dinked cross was headed into the back of the net by Walters but was flagged offside.
On seventy-five minutes Hendrick was replaced by eventual goal scorer Daryl Murphy. A point achieved in difficult conditions in Belgrade, and a lifetime memory for Jeff Hendrick as he scored his first international senior goal for Ireland.
Despite little time on the ball, regardless his ability is visible. As Hendrick returns to his new Premier League club Burnley this week, he sets out to begin a massive year. A club record signing for one of the most sought after midfielders this Summer.
And Hendrick deserves it. At 24, he is only reaching his stride. Both Burnley and Irish supporters will be able to watch and appreciate the inevitable highs that Jeff Hendrick will experience on the pitch this coming season.