John Henderson is taking a leaf out of Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers’ book as he aims to shock Gary Anderson in tonight’s Scottish showdown at the Players Championship.
The Highlander faces the World Champion in a mouth-watering Tartan tear-up at Minehead.
Henderson is a huge underdog, but reckons Rodgers has given him inspiration.
The Huntly hero stopped off at Celtic Park on his way south to take in the Champions League showdown between the Hoops and Barcelona in midweek.
Henderson noted the approach of Rodgers’ unfancied troops as they ignored reputations and battled hard against Lionel Messi and the rest of the Catalan superstars.
He wants to take that onto the stage and said: “I watched Celtic against Barcelona before flying down south for the Players Championship.
“I do feel a bit like Celtic now and Gary is Messi. He is the World Champion after all.
“About as many people expect me to beat Gary as Celtic fans expected to beat Barcelona on Wednesday night, but Celtic have beaten Barca before and Gary can be beaten, so I go into the match with a positive attitude, which of course you have to.
“It’s a big ask to get a result against someone like Gary.
“He’s such an outstanding player and a great guy with it. He is playing well but he can be sometimes vulnerable early in an event over a short format.
“James Wade beat him 6-0 a few weeks back in the European Championship and Joe Cullen also got a result in the World Series in Glasgow.
“So if you have to face Gary it’s best to get him early in a tournament. Once it’s over a long format, he is just incredible.”
Henderson needs a big result to get into top-shape ahead of the World Championships and added: “I have my moments but not enough, I know that.”
“However I know if I bring my A game I can give anyone a battle.
“I think my biggest problems stem from a wretched World Championship record.
“In six attempts at the BDO and PDC Worlds, I’ve never been beyond the second round. That means you are alway chasing your ranking all year which is really tough.
“If I could get a better Worlds run it would boost me up the world rankings much quicker and get me into bigger events and easier early round draws. That is obviously my big aim.
“I always pop up with a few good results during the year so this could be my weekend.
“It will be tough but I am due a big win. So watch out Gary.”
Henderson and Anderson are joined on stage by two more Scots tonight as Robert Thornton tackles Adrian Lewis, while Peter Wright is up against James Wilson.
The Highlander faces the World Champion in a mouth-watering Tartan tear-up at Minehead.
Henderson is a huge underdog, but reckons Rodgers has given him inspiration.
The Huntly hero stopped off at Celtic Park on his way south to take in the Champions League showdown between the Hoops and Barcelona in midweek.
Henderson noted the approach of Rodgers’ unfancied troops as they ignored reputations and battled hard against Lionel Messi and the rest of the Catalan superstars.
He wants to take that onto the stage and said: “I watched Celtic against Barcelona before flying down south for the Players Championship.
“I do feel a bit like Celtic now and Gary is Messi. He is the World Champion after all.
“About as many people expect me to beat Gary as Celtic fans expected to beat Barcelona on Wednesday night, but Celtic have beaten Barca before and Gary can be beaten, so I go into the match with a positive attitude, which of course you have to.
“It’s a big ask to get a result against someone like Gary.
“He’s such an outstanding player and a great guy with it. He is playing well but he can be sometimes vulnerable early in an event over a short format.
“James Wade beat him 6-0 a few weeks back in the European Championship and Joe Cullen also got a result in the World Series in Glasgow.
“So if you have to face Gary it’s best to get him early in a tournament. Once it’s over a long format, he is just incredible.”
Henderson needs a big result to get into top-shape ahead of the World Championships and added: “I have my moments but not enough, I know that.”
“However I know if I bring my A game I can give anyone a battle.
“I think my biggest problems stem from a wretched World Championship record.
“In six attempts at the BDO and PDC Worlds, I’ve never been beyond the second round. That means you are alway chasing your ranking all year which is really tough.
“If I could get a better Worlds run it would boost me up the world rankings much quicker and get me into bigger events and easier early round draws. That is obviously my big aim.
“I always pop up with a few good results during the year so this could be my weekend.
“It will be tough but I am due a big win. So watch out Gary.”
Henderson and Anderson are joined on stage by two more Scots tonight as Robert Thornton tackles Adrian Lewis, while Peter Wright is up against James Wilson.
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