Jordan Henderson didn't 'feel quite the way he would like' as Ajax manager John van 't Schip explains ex-Liverpool captain's absence for Heracles victory

Ajax rose to fifth in the Eredivisie following a comeback win at the Erve Asito Stadium on Saturday but Henderson was not in the matchday squad. The 33-year-old, who joined from Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq earlier this month, still awaits his first-team debut but it seems the England international won't have to wait long, according to Van 't Schip.

The Ajax manager said on Henderson: "He had hardly trained in a group until this week. In his heart, he would have liked to play, but he said himself, 'I don't feel quite the way I would like to feel yet'. We also think he should start as well as he can. So that was not today. We obviously hope to present him next week in the game against PSV."

Henderson will be eager to move on as quickly as possible from his short stint in Saudi Arabia, which ended in the former Liverpool captain reportedly not receiving any of the money from his £350,000 ($444.8k) a week wages following the termination of his contract. The veteran has an eye on making Gareth Southgate's England squad for this year's European Championships and they will be boosted if he can play regularly at the Dutch side.

Henderson will hope to make his Ajax debut on Saturday when they host league leaders PSV Eindhoven next Saturday. Their next opponents have won 18 of 19 league games this season and have a 13 point cushion ahead of second-placed Feyenoord - with Ajax a whipping 21 points adrift.