Ian Appleyard: Henderson must improve self-control for his and Blades' sake

For those who may not know, Henderson is a striker who has earned the majority of his money bundling over defenders in the second tier of English football.

He spent one season in the Premier League with Watford three years ago but was soon back among the rough and tumble of the Championship.

Henderson's biggest strength has always been his strength, not his skill on the ball or his eye for goal. Terms frequently used to describe his style of play include 'uncompromising' and 'bruising'.

Defenders of average ability do not enjoy playing against him and although Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal will never beat a path to his door there are still plenty of managers outside the top flight who would not mind having him on the books.

But Henderson's latest indiscretion, apparently elbowing Nottingham Forest winger Paul Anderson in an

off-the-ball incident, was a serious slap in the face for Blades manager Kevin Blackwell.

Not only did it show an absence of maturity in Henderson's play but it also leaves the Blades without a key forward at a time when Blackwell is already bemoaning a shortage of players at Bramall Lane due to injuries.

Just to make things even worse, the club's promotion push is hanging by a thread and bad results during his three-game absence could effectively kill any talk of a return to the Premier League this season.

Henderson is not the first player to be sent off seven times and will not be the last. He also has a long way to go before equalling the Football League record of 13 dismissals held jointly by former Leicester City player Steve Walsh and former Southend United striker Roy McDonough.

But his record is embarrassing, certainly not a source of pride, and there has to come a time in his career when the penny finally drops. That time is now.

At the age of 28, the Blades striker needs to realise the importance of availability to his side. Any player is worthless when suspended and Henderson's absence is a major blow to the Blades.

It is no good complaining about treatment from referees – everyone is treated equally. Opposition defenders will always try to wind strikers up, too – deal with it.

He might not be blessed with the same natural talent as Wayne Rooney or Emile Heskey but he still has to make the most of the talent at his disposal. Getting this far in the game is already testimony to his qualities but better self-control would only improve his effectiveness.

Just a few weeks ago, Blackwell opted to give Henderson the captain's armband after losing Chris Morgan to injury. It was a strange, and ultimately mis-guided decision as the striker failed to live up to the honour and was substituted to ironic cheers from his own supporters. It was also a hint, too, that patience with Henderson is starting to run out at Bramall Lane. Blackwell refused to condemn the striker after the incident last week at the City Ground, opting instead to criticise the referee and lambast radio journalists who raised the subject.

The Blades manager knows that he needs Henderson in attack and the striker is central to his overall game plan. Yet blinkered loyalty risks insulting the intelligence of the supporters and, make no mistake, there were some who departed the City Ground last week feeling let down by both the player's actions and his manager's words.