Jordan Henderson: 'Give Kevin Ball Sunderland job'

Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson believes that Sunderland caretaker manager Kevin Ball is the man to pick up the pieces from Paolo Di Canio's failed reign on Wearside.

The Italian disciplinarian was sacked last Sunday just five games into the Premier League season, with Sunderland bottom of the table, and Ball was installed as caretaker boss for the midweek Capital One Cup victory over Peterborough United.

In his role as Senior Professional Development Coach, Ball helped bring Henderson through the Black Cats' youth system before his £20m move to the Reds, whom Sunderland face on Sunday at the Stadium of Light.

Henderson told the Daily Mail: "I'd love him to be the manager. I texted him good luck before his first game (a 2-0 win against Peterborough in the Capital One Cup).

"He loves Sunderland. He's got them in his blood. When we were coming through, a lot of people looked at Kevin Ball like he was fighter, a battler, a warrior on the pitch.

"As a manager he's all of that but he wants his teams to get the ball down and play good football as well."

Henderson, 23, made 79 appearances for Sunderland, scoring five goals, in his three seasons as a professional for the North-East outfit.