John Carver has told Premier League clubs in England to sign Scotland hero Jack Hendry.
The 27-year-old centre-back moved from Club Brugge in Belgium to Italian strugglers Cremonese in the summer. Despite playing just seven minutes for his new club in Serie A so far, Hendry was outstanding for Scotland in their Nations League triple-header last week.
The defender was an ever-present against Ukraine twice and Republic of Ireland as Steve Clarke’s men topped the group. Carver was delighted for Hendry and says he’s a Premier League star in the making. So much so, he urged clubs in England’s top flight to take him before Cremonese snapped him up. The Scotland number two said: “I really like Jack. I’ve recommended him to a couple of Premier League clubs and, without going into detail, one of them almost took him in the summer.
“He’s a centre-back who can play and he’s quick. That’s an attribute you need in the Premier League. If you’re quick and you’re comfortable in possession, you have a chance of playing in the Premier League.
“This is part of his development now. He wasn’t getting a game in Brugge so he had to go and play. He’s gone out to Italy and hopefully he’ll get a run of games.
“Clubs will be watching him. Everyone wants a centre-back with pace. I hope he ends up back in the UK - because it’ll be easier for me to watch him!
“The more players in the national team we have playing in the Premier League, the better it will be for us. Nathan Patterson and Aaron Hickey have gone down there and look at how they’re developing in that environment (at Everton and Brentford). Who knows? Jack could be the next one.”
Hendry played in the Champions League for Brugge last season against the likes of Manchester City and PSG but fell out of favour towards the end of the campaign. Carver expects him to break into the Cremonese side and become a fixture in Serie A.
And he’s told Hendry that his performances for Scotland has to be a launchpad for his career. He said: “We had a conversation before he signed for Cremonese because we have a good relationship.
“He’s only had seven minutes in Serie A so far so it’s been a difficult time for Jack recently. For him to come in and take that responsibility in three games for Scotland was fantastic.
“This has to be another start point in Jack’s career. I’m sure if his club manager has watched him for Scotland - which I’m sure he has - he’ll be thinking: ‘I have to put him in my team’.
“They’re joint bottom of the Italian league and conceded four goals in their last game. So he must be thinking that Jack has to go into the team.
“This has to be the start of something for Jack. He performed immaculately in the three games for us, along with many others. It was a gamble for Steve to put him in and keep him in. But he’s matured and he dealt with it brilliantly.”
Meanwhile, Carver has praised Hendry’s defensive partner against Ukraine, Ryan Porteous for his display in Warsaw on Tuesday night. But at the same time, the Scotland coach has wanted the Hibs ace not to take anything for granted now that he’s returned to his club.
Carver said: “We had Declan Gallagher there for the Ukraine game, who has a number of caps already. It would have been easy for Steve to stick Declan in but he wanted to give young Ryan an opportunity and he grabbed it with both hands.
“He’s now got to go back to his club and I’ll be watching him - on and off the pitch! I’ll be keeping an eye on him at Hibs to make sure it doesn’t go to his head.”
