Craig Henderson (Unattached FC)

A good 2-1 away win vs. Brann in a bit of an upset against one of Norway's biggest clubs.

Craig subbed after 58 mins just after his side went 2-1 ahead - he was on a yellow and no doubt replaced with a defensive midfielder.

http://int.soccerway.com/matches/2014/04/06/norway/eliteserien/sportsklubben-brann-bergen/stabak-idrettsforening/1605612/

Stabak now lead the table with a 100% record after two games.

Last season's table (minus the two relegated clubs) to give some idea of form of various clubs -  unfashionable Stromsgodset pipped Norway's biggest club Rosenborg to the title; major clubs Brann, Valerenga, Lillestrom and Molde had bad seasons.

Two straight losses for Henderson's Stabaek -  eighth on the table:

http://int.soccerway.com/teams/norway/stabak-idrettsforening/1593/

2-0 v Molde at home: full 90 for Craig

2-1 v Odd away: started and 63 mins for Craig

Two great results last week take Stabaek up to fifth on the table just behind mighty Rosenberg on goal difference.

Mid-week 8-0 Cup win vs. Third Div. Jevnaker and 2-1 in the league on the weekend vs. Bodo-Glimt (sounds like a Hobbit team - Frodo as striker?)

http://int.soccerway.com/teams/norway/stabak-idrettsforening/1593/

http://int.soccerway.com/matches/2014/04/27/norway/eliteserien/stabak-idrettsforening/fotballklub-bodoglimt/1605637/

Hendo must be injured - not in the squad for the league game (couldn't find line-ups for the Cup).

Hendo still out injured - has missed last five Stabaek games (four league, one Cup). Last played April 21.

Stabaek seventh on 16 team table.

Sounds familiar.

Apparently he was supposed to be on the bench yesterday, but a mistake on the team sheet saw his name being accidentally left off. 

Hendo back in the squad but remained on the bench for the 5-1 away loss to Lillestrom on the weekend:

http://int.soccerway.com/matches/2014/05/24/norway/eliteserien/lillestrom-sportsklubb/stabak-idrettsforening/1605691/

Stabaek seventh on the 16 team table.

Henderson made his first appearance since April last weekend (was last on the bench on May 24) after a long injury lay-off.

On as a 71 min sub in the 2-0 home loss to Aalesund on July 6:

http://int.soccerway.com/matches/2014/07/06/norway...

Stabaek now 10th on the 16 team table 14 matches into the 30 game season.

Coach Bob Bradley certainly doesn't like to play for a draw: 6 wins, 0 draws, 8 losses so far this season. 

Henderson on as a 78 min. sub in the 1-1 home draw with Brann last Friday night. Unused sub the previous weekend.

http://int.soccerway.com/matches/2014/07/18/norway...

Craig on at halftime in the 2-0 away win in the Cup over Bodo/Glimt 23 July

Not in the squad for the 3-2 away loss to Valerenga 29 July

Nor the 4-1 home thrashing of mighty Rosenborg (one of the best results in Stabaek's recent history) 3 August

Nor was he in the squad for the 2-2 away draw to Molde last weekend.

http://int.soccerway.com/teams/norway/stabak-idret...

No appearances for Mr Henderson since July.

Poor bloke must be facing serious injury woes again.

His side, Stabaek, newly promoted to the top tier in Norway this season, are comfortably mid-table at eighth on the 16 team table:

http://int.soccerway.com/national/norway/eliteseri...

Four games to go.

Still out injured (no appearances since July 23) but got married in August in Norway:

look like they had a whale of a time

Any word on said injury? His body's taken a bit of a beating, was injured a lot of the time at Mjallby. 

Wonder if it's a recurrence or a new injury altogether.

Henderson has two caps for NZ - he played in the friendly vs. Trinidad & Tobago 15/10/13  and in the second leg vs. Mexico at Westpac last year (replaced Rojas in the second half).

He was with that World Cup squad in camp for over a month in October and November 2013.

it was sarcasm

Craig's club finished a comfortable ninth on the sixteen team Norwegian table in their first season back in the top flight:

http://int.soccerway.com/national/norway/eliteseri...

But no appearances for Craig since July.

His playing future must be uncertain.

Not sure if Craig has been with his Norwegian club Stabaek on their pre-season US tour.

Stabaek has been participating this week in MLS side Portland Timber's pre-season "Simple Invitational" with the Timbers, Chicago Fire and Vancouver Whitecaps.

Craig gets a mention here in the tournament preview as if he's still part of the squad:

http://www.timbers.com/news/2015/02/simple-invitat...

He's also still listed as part of the squad on the club's official website:

http://translate.google.co.nz/translate?hl=en&sl=n...

This also suggests he's still in their squad:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_Stab%C3%A6k_Fotb...

But he's not in any lineups in the tournament match reports for Stabaek's two games so far:

http://www.chicago-fire.com/news/2015/02/fire-open...

http://www.whitecapsfc.com/news/2015/02/whitecapsf...

Stabaek play the Portland Timbers on  Sunday NZT (Saturday 5 pm Portland time)

The game will stream live here on Portland's website for free:

http://www.timbers.com/timbers-live

Is he fit and good to go ? thought he had a major injury at the end of last season ? Would be a decent impact player for the All whites of the bench if he can get minutes. 

Stabaek fan forums confirm Craig is still at the club and likely to be fit for the season opener in three weeks.

He could become an important player to them because the club is under-financed and has lost most of its best players in the off-season.

Summary of the club's poor situation here in a new season preview:

http://translate.google.co.nz/translate?hl=en&sl=n...

Finally, concrete news on Craig Henderson:

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=no&...

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=no&...

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=no&...

His club have eleven foreign players on heir books and the league limit is nine, so Craig and Russian international fullback Kirisov cannot currently be part of the first team squad.

Craig has had hip surgery and expects to be fit to play again next month. However, he'll be restricted to reserve team matches.

At least until August, when space on the squad will be available.

Henderson's contract expires at the end of the season in November.

(Note: in the translation of the article, "Quotes" means Stabaek FC - it just gets translated that way)

Hendo scored what looks like the winner in this game. He looked well stoked and looks fit too!

http://m.db.no/2015/08/16/sport/fotball/tippeligaen/mjondalen/haugesund/40646074/

Craig Henderson loaned to Mjondalen until end of 2015 - they also play in the top division in Norway.....and probably the only team I have ever seen to wear brown shirts

it will be the debut season in the top tier for the team.

Platense and Atlas also wear brown shirts.

The hipster's club of choice, St Pauli, also wear brown shirts

Great to see Craig fit and playing regularly again - his dramatic debut for his new loan club was a nice reward for a year of rehab after not playing since July last year.

Became an instant hero for Mjondalen when he scored the winner in injury time on his debut after coming on at the beginning of the second half on August 16:

http://int.soccerway.com/matches/2015/08/16/norway/eliteserien/mjondalen-if/fotballklub-haugesund/1975151/

Video (1.04 minutes in):

http://m.db.no/2015/08/16/sport/fotball/tippeligaen/mjondalen/haugesund/40646074/

Started and played 79 mins in 1-0 loss away to league leaders Rosenberg on August 23

Played the full 90 mins in the 4-2 home loss to Stromsgodset on August 30 (they were 2-2 on 90 mins before conceding two goals in injury time)

Mjondalen have played 22 games with 8 remaining this season.

Mjondalen lie 14th on the table in the relegation play-off spot, one point above 15th placed Tromso and automatic relegation.

13th placed Start just above them have the same points total:

http://int.soccerway.com/national/norway/eliteserien/2015/regular-season/r30154/

If he remains fit and playing, would be a useful addition to the All Whites squad.

Played the first half for Mjøndalen in a 4-1 loss to his parent club Stabæk

Interesting to see he's able to play against his parent club

A draw and a loss in Mjondalen's last two games, leaving them second-to-last and in relegation position with two games left.

Craig started and was subbed on 65 mins in the 3-1 away loss vs. Molde on 18 October 

http://int.soccerway.com/matches/2015/10/18/norway...

Came on as an 89th min. sub in the 1-1 away draw vs. Start on 23 October

http://int.soccerway.com/matches/2015/10/23/norway...

Mjondalen are on 21 points, one behind 14th place Start in the relegation play-off position and two points from safety at 13th place:

http://int.soccerway.com/national/norway/eliteseri...

The club which holds Craig's contract, Stabaek are in third place (equal points with second) and in line for a Europa League spot.

So if he goes back to play for Stabaek next season, it should be good times there.

Henderson started and got 86 minutes in a 3-1 loss at Viking FK. That result sees Mjøndalen finish the season in 15th place and relegated.

While Craig's loan club are relegated, his parent club Stabaek finish third and secure a Europa League spot:

http://int.soccerway.com/national/norway/eliteserien/2015/regular-season/r30154/

Stabaek had to send Craig out loan because they had too many foreign players in their squad (beyond the league limit).

Be interesting to see what happens to him next season.

Whats the limit on foreigners BP if you know? Europa league would be good for him the Europa league has no limits on foreigners or the Norwegian league cant enforce it at least in that environment.  

Maximum of nine foreign players allowed in the squad:

http://blog.fieldoo.com/2014/08/norwegian-tippeligaen-review/

I should mention that Stabaek have qualified for the first round of Europa League qualifying, not the main draw.

Craig's club in the thread title can be changed back to "Stabaek" now that he is back there after his loan spell at Mjondalen ended.

Stabaek have an interesting new coach to replace Bob Bradley - Billy McKinlay the former Scotland international, Dundee United, Blackburn and Leicester midfielder.

He was David Moyes' assistant at Real Sociedad until Moyes was sacked recently. 

Previously on the coaching staff at Fulham, Watford and Northern Ireland. 

Former USA national coach Bradley left Stabaek in November after taking them to third on the table and a cup semi.

He was immediately signed as manager by major French Ligue 2 club Le Havre who sit fourth on the table and are chasing promotion.

Craig has been released by Stabaek:

http://www.transfermarkt.com/craig-henderson/trans...

He's no longer on the squad list on the official Stabaek website either.

I think he'll find another club in Scandinavia because he's been fit since August 2015 and played all of Mjondallen's games during his loan spell there at the end of last season (August to November).

He barely played in the Norwegian league due to injury but when he was fit and playing regularly in Sweden's top flight in 2012-13 he was one of NZ's best attacking midfielders and scored a few goals. He should have seen more action for the All Whites under Ricki in the last World Cup qualifying campaign when he was fit during the whole of that time and had the best period of his career at Mjallby in the Swedish top flight.

Be interesting to see where he ends up now...

Scandinavian clubs' pre-seasons start this month and the leagues in Norway and Sweden start in mid-March.