Henderson praises Coventry loan

Henderson made 13 appearances for Coventry during his five-month loan spell

Sunderland midfielder Jordan Henderson believes his spell at Championship side Coventry City has better prepared him for life at the Stadium of Light.

Henderson, 19, was sent out to the Ricoh Arena for five months last season, making 13 appearances and scoring once.

"It was brilliant at Coventry," he told BBC Newcastle.

"I was playing first-team football which helped massively, I came into pre-season with a different view."

Henderson has played in both of the Black Cats' Premier League matches, and was named in the first 11 against Chelsea on Tuesday.

And the Sunderland-born winger is delighted to get his chance under new boss Steve Bruce.

"It's given me massive confidence, but the people around me are keeping my feet on the ground," he said.

"I'm going to keep working hard, doing what I've been doing in training and putting it out there on the pitch.

"I just want to put myself about a bit, I'm probably the happiest person in the world at the moment, I've just got to keep doing what I'm doing and hopefully I'll keep playing."

The right-sided midfielder is a graduate of the club's well-respected academy set-up, and has made four first-team appearances for the Wearsiders since signing professional terms in July 2008.