Midfielder Jordan Henderson has hit back at criticism of his continued involvement in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad, insisting he remains an important contributor on and off the pitch and is “not here to be a cheerleader.”
The 35-year-old former England captain had not featured for his country for 16 months before earning a recall in March, as part of Tuchel’s first squad since taking charge. The German coach praised Henderson as a “serial winner” and highlighted his leadership qualities, calling them vital to the squad’s development.
Since his return, Henderson has made four appearances for England and has been included again for the upcoming friendly against Wales and the World Cup qualifier in Latvia. Speaking to reporters, he was adamant that his selection is based on merit.
“I’ve shown what I can do for England over the years, and I’m still playing at a high level,” Henderson said. “People outside — media or whoever — can think what they want. The most important people are the manager, the coaching staff, and the players. Ask them if I’m a cheerleader here. I don’t think one of the best managers in Europe would pick me just for that.”
“I’m here to perform — whether that’s in training every day or when I’m on the pitch. My job is to perform for the team and to help the team.”
Henderson returned to the Premier League this season after a two-year absence, following a turbulent spell abroad. He left Liverpool in 2023 to join Al-Ettifaq in the Saudi Pro League, a decision that was widely criticised and ultimately lasted only six months. He later moved to Ajax, seeking a return to top-level European football.
Reflecting on the past two years, Henderson admitted the period had been one of the most challenging of his career.
“If you ask a lot of players who leave a club they’ve been at for so long — not just Liverpool — they’d say it’s hard,” he said. “With time, things change and you move on. But I’d say that was probably the most difficult time for me.”
“In hindsight, maybe I’d have made different decisions. You can look back and think, ‘Maybe I could have done this differently.’ But there were reasons behind it, and I didn’t do it on a whim. In the end, it’s made me stronger.”
Despite criticism and questions about his place in the squad, Henderson remains determined to contribute meaningfully to England’s 2026 World Cup campaign. His experience, leadership, and mentality — the same qualities Tuchel cited when recalling him — continue to make him a valued figure in a squad balancing established stars with emerging talent.
