Henderson: I felt no fear on comeback

Conor Henderson says he felt no apprehension at all about making his return from injury in the Reserves' 1-0 win at Newcastle this month. The 20-year-old had been sidelined for more than eight months after suffering a cruciate knee ligament injury in a friendly against Cologne in July. But a 66-minute run-out for Neil Banfield's side in the North East was a crucial step on the road to recovery for Henderson. “It was very good at Newcastle but it's been a frustrating time," he told the Official Arsenal Magazine. "I have just had to stay positive and patient. I knew I would get back eventually. "I felt relief, happiness, everything you could imagine to be playing again. The frustration was gone, and it was a very good feeling. “I thought there would be some apprehension about playing again - there was with the last injury [also a cruciate knee ligament injury, when he was 17] - but I felt fearless. “There were no worries, I just concentrated on playing. I felt comfortable in the game and on the ball, so I was really happy with how it went. There was no reaction in the knee, no pain at all.”