The under-radar Scottish star putting McTominay and Co in Serie A shade
The Scottish Serie A chatter may have focused on trio Che Adams, Billy Gilmour and Scott McTominay in recent weeks, but there is another Scotsman excelling in Italy’s top flight.
Former Celtic and Hibs midfielder Liam Henderson has flown under the radar at Empoli this term, largely due to the big-money arrivals of Scotland stars McTominay and Gilmour at Napoli. Adams, meanwhile, has scored four times for Torino since making the switch from Southampton this summer.
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Hide AdHenderson, however, has been in Italy for many years now. The 28-year-old made the switch from Celtic to Bari in 2018 and has remained in the country ever since, starring for Hellas Verona, Lecce, Palermo and Empoli, where he has started every match this season.


The Tuscan club are one of only two unbeaten teams in Serie A this term after six rounds of fixtures (Juventus are the other). Empoli have won two matches, away at Roma and Cagliari, and have drawn against Monza, Bologna, Juventus and Fiorentina. They have also reached the last 16 of the Coppa Italia following wins over Catanzaro and Torino.
The former Scotland Under-21 internationalist’s future with Empoli appeared under threat at the start of the summer. Out of favour under previous managers Aurelio Andreazzoli and Davide Nicola, Henderson was farmed out to Serie B side Palermo for the entirety of the 2023/24 campaign, where he was a regular for the Sicilians.
He returned to Empoli this summer under another head coach. Former Lecce boss Roberto D'Aversa - dismissed from his previous role for headbutting Verona striker Thomas Henry in March - took over and immediately took a shine to Henderson, who has been deployed in the No 6 role in the centre of their midfield.
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Hide AdEmpoli’s form currently has them sixth in Serie A on ten points and they put their unbeaten start to the season on the line against seventh-placed Lazio in Rome on Sunday. And while McTominay and Co continue to hog the headlines, former Scottish Cup winner Henderson - who likes to play on the downlow - will hope to keep up his excellent start to the season for Azzurri Empolesi.
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