Craig Henderson (Unattached FC)

Craig Henderson.  Photo: Klacksparken.com.

The contract was signed on a frostbitten night in December 2009, the agreement involved three common years and the prospect of a gold-edged collaboration.

Mjällby's club management patted his diamond with a gentle hand and painted visions that rang sweetly in all supporters' ears.

The player, named by his nation for the preparatory camp for the World Cup finals in South Africa in 2010, would carry Mjällbys midfield in the premier league return.

Injuries, miseries and setbacks, however, were a permanent feature of his life and resulted in no play,  neither in the World Cup or in Mjällby AIF.

Not the summer of 2010, not the summer of 2011 and not in spring 2012.

Now that the 25th anniversary approaches (next Sunday), his long contract only has shards left (contract expires October 31).

There is still a long time, it's the uncertainty that has characterized the player that detractors termed Jesus - "everyone talks about him, but nobody has seen him. "

No one has seen him. Up to now.

Until a summer mini-tournament with a premier division team in sunny greenery at Brunn Vallen in Ronneby.

It was a few seconds over 16 yesterday when the kick-off took place between Mjallby and Kalmar.

It was early afternoon when the first raid of the shirt number 19 took place.

After torn cruciate ligament, mysterious foot injury, repeated setbacks, failed rehab and misery, he did finally debut in yellow and black.

Craig Henderson smiled broadly as he held up the midfield for 45 minutes in the meeting to Kalmar (match ended 0-0, Mjallby won the Cup after the 1-0 in the end against Everton).

Two years ago he would have been an important hub in New Zealand's midfield in the World Cup finals.

Now he smiles happily at the opening of a training match against Hockeyallsvenskan resistance for the club he belonged to since December 2009 without having reached a single minute of playing time in the first team.

Now it's about joy again for 24-year-old who has played 20 internationals for his nation in the U20-and U23-vintages.

Now it's about joy again for 24-year-old, who was handpicked by Mjallby following recommendations (former Mjällby player Johan Cedergren) from the U.S., where Craig Henderson represented Dartmouth College.

Now it's about joy and a comeback at a time when Mjällbys midfield bursting at the seams.

At a time when Pavel Zavadil (Czech Brno) is lost, where Dominique Kivuvu learn trample another football ground in August and where Simon Nilsson pulled on an uncertain harm in vänsterknä (injured against Kalmar, initial reports speak of a damaged ligament).

At a time when every new tile in the midfield is very welcome.

Craig Henderson showed last winter, the best test results ever in the Blekinge Institute of Health Training Centre Arena, Karlskrona.

With the mask over his mouth, harness around the upper body, black shorts and barefoot in the white adidas, then ran Craig Henderson maxlöpningar on the treadmill like no teammate done before.

"The best I've ever seen!" Exclaimed fysansvarige Miro Zalar, who performed the tests.

Miro Zalar told that in and of itself is common for long-term injured players may be an extreme physics because they spend all your time on physical training (injuries preclude any other exercise), but this was something extraordinary.

Craig Henderson has proven all the values ??in the top when he seriously mark their interest to compete for one of four locations on Mjällbys midfield in the 18 remaining Premier Division data.

On Sunday, he blows with his neighbor Samuel Petrone out the 25 candles in a birthday cake.

Barely a week later - on Saturday, June 30 - can the Premier Division debut to be a fact for the player who is so keen to show fans why Mjällbys club management pounced on him one winter's night for two and a half years ago and sent an 36-month contract.

Craig Henderson is back.

 Jersey number 19 is no longer fragile, battered and marked by injuries (Flemming Pehrson 1980, Craig Henderson 2010).

Jersey number 19 can brighten Mjällby AIF's autumn 2012 as it did in 1979 (Flemming Pehrson...)

Jersey number 19 is back after years of rehab workouts.

Welcome back – Craig Henderson!

Mjällby AIF's Thursday training showed clearly how the coaching staff will handle the closures of Haris Radetinac and Daniel Nilsson in the encounter against IFK Gothenburg on Sunday.

Craig Henderson enters centrally and form innermittfält the future.

After two and a half years with injuries that ruined any possibility of games in the first team, so now get the national team qualified midfielder from New Zealand to show why he was current World Cup two summers ago.

By Craig Henderson and the Future of the central positions, then Viktor Agardius to play on the left and Daniel Nicklasson on the right side of midfield...

Now Mjallby hoping for another match winner.

Why not be the player who last winter had by far the best test values ??during the grueling endurance workouts at Blekinge Institute of Health Arena in Karlskrona - Craig Henderson.

Many have waited a long time on his debut in the yellow and black jersey and now it is only hours away.

Thursday's exercise was revealing: Craig Henderson solve the midfield problem.

Tonight, he put the leased Volvo safely and securely with Ask & Embla as gray concrete witnesses.

Then he can sleep easy (the neighbor Sam Petrone is on the Island ...) with the knowledge that his debut in Mjällby AIF is stumbling close.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

4-2 loss to Gothenburg: Unlucky to lose by two with last two Gothenburg goals in last five minutes.

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS (15 MIN): Henderson narrowly wide with good flying header from edge of box at 2.12 in footage:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ninh3vXl2dE

Notable for third fastest goal in history of Swedish top flight with a Gothenburg player scoring after 11 seconds!

"Allsvenskan third fastest hit after 11 seconds by Daniel Sobralense. (Jonas Henriksson scoreded in 2010 after 8 seconds and the record is Daniel Mendes who was 1-0 for Kalmar FF against Helsingborg IF May 16, 2010)."

MATCH THREAD: Henderson seems quite involved, including efforts on goal:

Marcus Ekenberg, Pär Ericsson and Craig Henderson has had time to test Erik Dahlin, goalkeeper in IFK Gothenburg.

A few corners and an intense match upbeat.

More Goals in the air.

An extremely intense opening match.

The first quarter has included five corners - three to IFK Gothenburg and two to Mjällby AIF.

Three shots on goal for Mjällby (Pär Ericsson 4 min, 8 min Craig Henderson, Marcus Ekenberg 8 minutes).

Three shots on goal in Gothenburg (Daniel Sobralense in goal after 11 seconds, Daniel Sobralense 15 minutes, Daniel Sobralense 17 min).

1-0 - 18 min.

Six shots on goal for the home team (Tobias Hysén 3 and Daniel Sobralense 3), four shots on goal for Mjällby (Marcus Ekenberg 2, Craig Henderson, Pär Ericsson).

1-0 - 42 min.

The intense opening tempo, which spread scoring opportunities in almost every attack in the first half hour, has slowed somewhat.

Mjallby makes for a really good game and it's an eventful game with many chances. 

1-1 after goals by Daniel Sobralense after 11 seconds (1) and Pär Ericsson after 42 minutes.

1-1 - 46 min.

A magical first half at Gamla Ullevi is over and gone.

Six shots on goal by the home team (Tobias Hysén 3, Daniel Sobralense 3).

Five shots on goal by the away team (Marcus Ekenberg 2, Pär Ericsson 2, Craig Henderson 1).

IFK Gothenburg has 2-1-lead after two goals by Daniel Sobralense.

2-1 - 65 min.

Moestafa El Kabir sends the ball to Marcus Ekenberg who from close range (less than five meters) pounds the ball pretty roof.

2-2 - 73 min.

15 minutes left at  the old Ullevi - a fantastic football game.

8-7 in shots on goal, 6-5 in corner kicks, 

2-2 80 mins.

Pontus Farnerud makes it 3-2 for the home team in the 86th minute.

3-2 - 86 min

4-2 - 90 +4 min - end.

The match settled.

Despite losing, Mjallby still sit safely at 11th on the 16 team table.