Jordan Henderson is back in the England squad and, while many are surprised to see him, Jordan Pickford has made his own stance clear.
The ex Liverpool captain has been on a strange journey since leaving Anfield. He spent six months in Saudi Arabia playing under Steven Gerrard, before switching mid-season to Ajax — in part to aid his England hopes ahead of last year’s Euros.
That proved in vain, with Henderson missing the cut for the tournament, where Gareth Southgate’s side ultimately reached the final in his absence. He also took plenty of early criticism in the Eredivisie, but has now settled in, and has earned an unlikely England recall from new manager Thomas Tuchel.
The former Chelsea boss has not been afraid of ringing the changes in certain areas, with Liverpool defender Jarell Quansah potentially in line for his first cap. Curtis Jones could also make just his third appearance.
But the recall of Henderson is not what most had in mind when imagining a new era. He will be turning 36 by the time the next World Cup rolls around, and his inclusion has caused some consternation as a new generation of talent continues to struggle for recognition on the international stage.
There was some pointless posturing about Morgan Gibbs-White, who quite clearly does not play in the same position as Henderson — or at least not the deep-lying, veteran version of the midfielder we see today. The fact the Nottingham Forest player has since been called up in place of Cole Palmer should say it all.
But there is more understandable dismay about the likes of Adam Wharton being overlooked. Yet Tuchel feels that Henderson can still bring important qualities, and Everton goalkeeper Pickford agrees.
(Image: Eddie Keogh – The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
“We have got Hendo with how many caps he has got,” Pickford said. “He has got that winning mentality, what he has won at Liverpool as a player and a captain.
“To have those leaders around the place, the more leaders you have in the team I think the more success they will bring. They will drive training standards, they will drive standards around the place and make it a better camp for everybody.”
Of course, if Henderson is not able to bring something on the pitch, then his inclusion will still be questioned. Roy Keane once famously asked if the then-Liverpool man could do card tricks, when it was suggested that he was there for his positive influence on the camp.
But the players and the manager both clearly see plenty of value in welcoming Henderson back into the fold. That’s ultimately the most important thing for the midfielder, who will happily ignore any outside noise in order to focus on making the most of this unlikely recall.
