Chris Herd’s performances have rightly earned him quite a few headlines in the last couple of weeks. Initially for the wrong reason, but lately for the right ones.

Alex McLeish has said that he’s “a manager’s dream; the best trainer at the club”.

He will train the way he plays on Saturday by giving it absolutely everything. Herdy can improve technically if he keeps practising. There is no doubt in my mind that he has the desire.

Peter Grant has also talked about his positional discipline, which is precisely what is giving Stiliyan Petrov the license to get forward a bit more.

And the captain is enjoying something of a renaissance this season as he’s given the freedom to play something closer to his natural role.

There’s also an argument, not entirely without merit, which says a more robust central midfield allows Gabby Agbonlahor to play closer to Darren Bent.

A win:win:win situation then.

Although it’s not exactly a rise from nowhere – Gerard Houllier unexpectedly turned to Herd on a handful of occasions last season – the young Aussie did just win his first senior call up for the Socceroos.

Injuries

Unfortunately, he’s been unable to fulfill the selection for the World Cup qualifiers against Oman and Thailand due to a minor ankle injury he sustained against Norwich. And it turns out he’s not alone.

James Collins and Alan Hutton both withdrew from their national squads. Shay Given didn’t train with Ireland due to a slight hand injury, but it’s not expected to stop him playing against Estonia on Friday.

Petrov headed straight down the tunnel with a hamstring injury last Saturday and, get this, it turns out Emile Heskey has been playing through injury too.

A lot of eyebrows have been raised at Heskey playing in any case, the fact he’s also playing with an injury, whilst apparently fit players languish on the bench, is a head-scratcher to say the least.

Still, everyone loves playing with Heskey we’re told. Except defenders.

So, the two week break, whilst annoying from a momentum perspective, is timely from a fitness point of view. Assuming those players who are away with their countries don’t pick up any injuries of course.

And for Jermaine Jenas, it’s kind of ironic. After all these weeks of waiting for him to be fit, he’s finally fit but now faces an annoying three week break, not two: the first match back from the interlull is against Tottenham and he can’t play against his parent club.

But to finish by returning to Herd; he absolutely has brought the dogged defensive element to our midfield that we’ve been missing, long may it continue. My only reservation, and I hope someone is having a quite word in his ear, is his penchant being a little impetuous.

It’s youthful exuberance, a touch of nerves and lack of experience at this level mostly, but if he can get that under control, he has the potential to be a key player in this season. It’s not a glamorous job, it’s easily overlooked and underappreciated, but if he can do the simple things well, the park will open up for the more creative players.

That’s something we desperately need and have missed since Nigel Reo-Coker headed for the exit door.