Jordan Henderson’s England recall is a “great move” and the 34-year-old brings a “winning mentality” to the squad, says goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
Ajax midfielder Henderson was called up for the first time since November 2023 when new manager Thomas Tuchel named him in his first England squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia.
Henderson won the first of his 81 caps in 2010 under Fabio Capello, and Tuchel has said the former Liverpool skipper “embodies everything we try to build”.
Pickford knows Henderson well as they were both at Sunderland in the early stage of their careers, as well as being part of the England sides that reached the 2018 World Cup semi-finals, the Euro 2020 final and the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
And Pickford thinks the call-up of Henderson and Newcastle defender Dan Burn will help the squad as they prepare to try to win the World Cup in 2026.
“We’ve been knocking on the door for a while now. We’ve been to two finals, a semi-final and a quarter final,” the goalkeeper said.
“It’s about that next step now. We know what it takes to get there. It’s about what it takes to lift the trophy, and that is what the manager has come in to do,” Pickford said.
“We have got Dan Burn’s first call-up which is a great achievement for him. We have got Hendo with how many caps he has got. 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.”
Henderson joined Ajax in January 2024 after spending less than six months at Al-Ettifaq in the Saudi Pro League.
He has made 38 appearances this season and Ajax are six points clear at the top of the Eredivisie.
“His desire to want to win and what he has won and achieved is driven by himself,” Pickford said.
“He’s a winner and a big leader. I think bringing Hendo back in is great for the squad.
“He was vice-captain for numerous years. He didn’t come to the last Euros but he was vice-captain in 2018 to Harry [Kane].
“I think someone like Hendo, it’s great. Having leaders in your group, the teams that have won have always had that experience in the side as well.
“I think it’s a great move for us to have someone like him in the squad. What he has done, how he is still driven – whether he plays or not he is going to be the leader on the training pitch,” Pickford added.
England reached the final of Euro 2024 under previous manager Gareth Southgate where they lost to Spain, and Pickford says it is hard to know if Henderson could have helped England win their first men’s trophy since 1966.
“We got to a final and didn’t win it,” Pickford said.
“Jords is a great lad and respected by all the players and the staff.
“I don’t think we will ever know if he was a miss as we got to the final. This manager has brought Hendo in and I know how much of a leader he is, and how respected he is, so I think it’s only a good thing.”-BBC
