Liverpool and England midfielder Jordan Henderson seems to split opinion amongst fans of English football. Some believe that he adds very little to the team, while others believe he provides a decent range of passing and energy.
No player is perfect, including Henderson, but he has set about proving his doubters wrong in recent games for club and country. There were eyebrows raised when he became Liverpool captain. However, his performances for the Reds have been more influential of late.
The highlight of his campaign so far was a superb long-range effort in a 2-1 win at Chelsea. On Saturday night he was influential in England’s 2-0 victory Malta in a World Cup qualifier.
The former-Sunderland star provided assists for Daniel Sturridge and Dele Alli’s goals, while also producing a dominant all-round display alongside captain Wayne Rooney.
Henderson’s good performance was only against a minnow of world football. However, his general performances are showing that he is a player capable of dominating games from the centre of midfield.
It seems that Henderson is set to fulfil his potential and prove his doubters wrong. Fewer people have questioned the midfielder’s displays this season. As he impresses more for England he is making himself more of a mainstay in the Three Lions midfield, just as he has at club level.
Henderson may now be one of the first names on Gareth Southgate’s England teamsheet for the Three Lions trip to Slovenia on Tuesday night.
The Liverpool captain is set to once again be joined by Rooney in the central midfield, despite the Three Lions captain being booed by Three Lions fans during the win over Malta. Whether Rooney should still be starting for England is a question that has been asked many times over the last year or so.
The question of whether Henderson should start seems to be being asked far less. Who knows the midfielder may one day be universally appreciated by fans of the English national team.