Liam Henderson could be next Richard Brodie says ex-York City boss John Ward

Henderson, born in Gateshead like Brodie, joined the Minstermen in a two-year deal following his release by Championship outfit Watford at the end of last season.

Ward, who was in charge at Bootham Crescent from October 1991 to March 1993, recruited the 21-year-old forward though for the first half of 2010/11 in his current role as manager of Colchester United.

In nine first-team outings, Henderson failed to find the net for the League One club with all but one of those appearances coming off the bench.

He has also failed to net at any of his other clubs, however, amounting to a 51-game drought spanning spells with Watford, Hartlepool, Colchester, Rotherham and Aldershot.

Ward, though, is backing Henderson to fulfil the potential he showed as a free-scoring frontman for Watford’s junior and reserve sides.

And, in doing so, the ex-City chief reckons Henderson, recruited on a free transfer, could one day reward the club with a healthy profit, just as Brodie did last summer when he moved on to Crawley for a six-figure sum having been plucked from Newcastle Benfield Bay Plastics.

Ward, who enjoyed a notable career himself as a striker with Lincoln, Watford and Grimsby, also knows a thing or two about turning potential into profit at Bootham Crescent, having snapped up Paul Barnes as City chief for £50,000 from Stoke with the club later selling him for £350,000 to Birmingham City.

The arrival of prolific Blue Square Bet Premier marksman Jason Walker from Luton Town has seen Henderson’s transfer somewhat overshadowed in recent weeks, but Ward reckons the latter could prove just as popular an acquisition.

He said: “Liam did fine for me. He mainly played as a sub but, when he came on, he had chances in pretty much every game.

“He was not able to score the goals for us he did as a young player for Watford but he came to us as cover and he did that exceptionally well. He’s full of enthusiasm, makes good runs and gets chances to score.

“Once he puts one or two in, I believe the goals will flow for him. I was a goalscorer so I know, if you start getting goals, your confidence grows.

“There’s definitely a goalscorer in there. It was just a case of trying to get that out at a higher level with us.

“If he does well at York, I think he could step back up and might prove a nice little earner for York just like Richard Brodie was. Alternatively, he could hopefully help York get back into the League.”

At 6ft 1in, Henderson is currently the tallest striker on City’s books but Ward does not feel he necessarily needs to be used as a foil for the likes of Walker, Jamie Reed and Ashley Chambers.

The Colchester chief said: “He can do both roles. He can work hard but he will also get chances to score in the box and the final third of the pitch. People can class players as target men but I think there are goals in him.”

Ward also believes that Henderson will prove a welcome addition to the dressing room, saying: “He’s a team player who will make runs for his team-mates.

“He always contributed for me and he fitted in well for us at Colchester. The lads thought enough of him to invite him back for the Christmas night out after he had gone back to Watford because he was very much part of the team.

“Watford called him back because he wasn’t getting starts because we didn’t get any injuries while he was here and we were in the top six so there was no reason to change the team. He went to Aldershot and Rotherham on a similar basis and I was pleased to hear he had got fixed up at a good club like York.”

Ward, now 60, remains grateful to City for giving him his first break in management 20 years ago when he succeeded John Bird as manager.

He went on to lay the foundations for the last City side to gain promotion, handing over the managerial reins to assistant Alan Little with just two months of the 1992/93 old third division play-off winning campaign remaining.

Leaving for Bristol Rovers, he has since taken charge of Bristol City, Wolves on a caretaker basis, Cheltenham, Carlisle and Colchester.

“There’s been lots of water under the bridge since I left the club but I still keep in touch with what’s going on at York as they gave me my first job in management,” Ward said. “I was given the opportunity and, even though we finished in the bottom four during that first season, the club believed in me and we went on to get promotion.

“In the same way, I think Liam will also benefit from the club giving him this chance.”

Current City boss Gary Mills is the ninth permanent manager since Ward assigned with bringing success to Bootham Crescent, following Little, Neil Thompson, Terry Dolan, Chris Brass, Viv Busby, Billy McEwan, Colin Walker and Martin Foyle.

It was an appointment that met with fellow Midlander Ward’s seal of approval.

“Living in Sutton Coldfield, I have followed Gary’s career during his years with Tamworth,” he said. “I believe his management career is on the rise and that York will benefit from that.”