AMSTERDAM — Naturally there was intrigue around Jordan Henderson from several interested parties after venturing to Amsterdam last week for Aston Villa’s draw with Ajax.
The response? A shrug, a “yeah, fine”, and then a slight elaboration. To hyperbolise the display either way would have been misleading.
This was Henderson’s first match against a Premier League opponent since leaving Liverpool last summer. It was also his first since joining Ajax, a move made in mid-January as he looked to resurrect a career that not only stalled in Saudi Arabia but took a self-inflicted hit – one where money came first and alliances were forgotten.
Few will forget that decision, but in seeking footballing retribution at the very least, Henderson left Al-Ettifaq as soon as he could and joined a club that mirrored his own situation: down but not out, wounded but still up for the fight.
And when taking in this city the move makes even more sense. A notoriously tolerant capital, for one, but more crucially: not England, rather a beautiful and football-mad European city steeped in prestige that is away from the baying British press.
Most of the time, anyway. While small pockets of Amsterdam became Little Birmingham for a day, Henderson was inevitably back in the limelight, speaking to broadcasters TNT Sports before and after the match, and put forward for press conference duties as well.
There would be no hiding, Ajax all too aware of what the travelling press would crave, but Henderson ensured there would be no salacious headlines manufactured either as he safely navigated his way through the rigmarole, noticeably cagey knowing the next question could be one he didn’t want to answer.
“No,” was one response about possible England assurances from Gareth Southgate. “Everything,” was another one-word reply about what Jurgen Klopp changed at Liverpool, before being urged to elaborate. “The intensity,” was all he added, although in fairness he had fielded England and Liverpool questions already – therefore taking the short way home when he could.
Come the match, a chance for Henderson to show that Ajax has his “full concentration”, the club that provides him “the best possibility to get into the England squad”.
And overall? Yeah, fine. Henderson did little noticeably wrong in the 0-0 draw, but equally the 33-year-old did not stand out.
There are kudos points for helping thwart a Villa side favourites for the Conference League, but he was not pivotal in this, Unai Emery’s side rarely attacking – one shot on target, 40 per cent possession – in a largely forgettable affair.
It was a perfectly average performance amid what has been an okay start to life in the Netherlands. More adjectives that hardly set the world alight, but again, simply the truth.
Now seven games in at Ajax, the club have drawn five of those matches, with a win and a loss to boot. Uninspiring, but now fifth having been bottom back in October, this is no longer freefall, and so altogether fine in a season where Champions League qualification is all-but out the question.
And fine is likely fine for Mr Fine. When Southgate names his squad just hours before Ajax’s return leg against Villa on Thursday night, we should expect to see Henderson make the cut.
There will be grumbles and accusations of Southgate sticking by his favourites, which he may well address, but with regards to Henderson the reality of the situation is staring right at us – he has every chance of starting at Euro 2024, let alone making the plane.
Currently there are precious few starting places left to fight for. All fit, Jordan Pickford will start in goal, Kyle Walker, Harry Maguire and John Stones will be in defence, while Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice are two-thirds of a midfield behind – surely – Phil Foden, Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka.
That leaves left-back – likely to be Luke Shaw if he is fit – and defensive midfield, where Henderson is vying with several candidates, none of whom have the same level of credit (and crucially, trust) with Southgate as he does.
Kalvin Phillips is trying to boost his own chances at West Ham – and for many, not succeeding – while Trent Alexander-Arnold is a firm maybe. Currently injured, the Liverpool 25-year-old started in midfield for England in November – alongside Henderson and Conor Gallagher against Malta, with Foden and Rice against North Macedonia.
Alexander-Arnold combining with Bellingham and Rice in a midfield three would excite England fans, but that is why few believe such a pragmatic manager will take this approach in tournament football. It was noticeable that in the game against Italy in October, it was Phillips starting along with Rice and Bellingham, while Henderson came off the bench as Alexander-Arnold remained on it. If it’s only going to be Henderson versus Phillips, particularly for a knockout tie, then right now the former edges it.
The outlier is Kobbie Mainoo, the Manchester United sensation who at 18 may not need the pressure and demands of a summer tournament just yet, but may force Southgate’s hand should he continue on this trajectory – one that will soon make this whole debate, thankfully, obsolete.
But for now, it seems safe to assume Southgate will rely on Henderson, knowing that he can. Among active England players, only Kane (89) and Raheem Sterling (82) have more caps than Henderson, who is tied with Walker on 81 – enough to place them both in the all-time top 20.
The former Liverpool captain has played in every major international tournament since 2012, and under Southgate alone a total of 906 minutes from a possible 1,800 at the 2018 World Cup, Euro 2020 and 2022 World Cup combined.
It means that Southgate has just about called on Henderson more often than not. If not starting, then from the bench, and if not in his thoughts initially – as was the case in Qatar – then more so come the knockouts.
It is the loyalty card that irks many, but should Southgate seek support for his choices, he has the backing of Ajax boss John van ‘t Schip – who echoed the England manager’s testaments to Henderson’s leadership qualities on and off the pitch, and has named the player his stand-in captain four times already.
“He is a real professional,” Van ‘t Schip said. “He is a leader, as you can see on the pitch. He had a difficult start because he came from Saudi Arabia and didn’t play for month and of course was not happy. He immediately rediscovered his pleasure in training and playing but he was a bit unlucky in the first games he played here.
“We didn’t get the results he wanted but now you can see he is very important, not only on the pitch but off the pitch. He talks about things that can improve the whole environment and is also guiding the players.”
Music to Southgate’s ears, and reasons why Henderson continuously makes his squads.
It remained the case during his fateful stint in Saudi, so there’s nothing to suggest otherwise now he’s back in Europe at Ajax, playing regular football and playing just fine.
For many, that is far from fine, but Southgate and Henderson have ignored the jeers before, and are likely to do so again later this month.
from Football - inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/KO1HVPu
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