'I've shown what I can do': Jordan Henderson insists he is more than just a cheerleader in England camp | OneFootball

The 35-year-old believes he brings more to the table than mere experience

Lots to offer: Jordan Henderson

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Jordan Henderson has dismissed suggestions he is simply in the England squad as a cheerleader.

Tuchel has praised the 35-year-old’s leadership qualities and his vast experience, hailing him as a “serial winner” back in March.

Henderson, however, has stressed that is not the sole reason he is being continually called up by Tuchel.

“Ask them what they think, if I am a cheerleader when I am here. I don’t think one of the best managers in Europe would be choosing me just to do that.

“I am here to perform, whether that is in training every day, whether that is when I am on the pitch. My main job is to be performing for the team and helping the team.

“All the other stuff is just to be myself. If I have to speak to younger players, that should be a given, really.

“It is natural that the older you get, the more experienced you are, of course you want to pass on those experiences to younger players coming into camp.

“But although they are young players, they have still played a lot of games, so there are a lot of mature players.

Henderson is hoping to be part of the squad for next year’s World Cup after missing the flight for Euro 2024. The midfielder was left out of the final squad for that tournament by Gareth Southgate, but he does not believe it was because he made the move to Saudi Arabia.

Jordan Henderson spent six months with Al Ettifaq before returning to Europe with Ajax

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Henderson was in the Middle East for just six months before moving to Ajax, and then this summer he returned to the Premier League after signing for Brentford.

The 35-year-old came in for heavy criticism after leaving Liverpool for Saudi Arabian club Al-Ettifaq and he has said it was a “really tough period” for him.

“In hindsight, maybe I would have made different decisions,” said Henderson, when asked about moving to Saudi Arabia.

“But at the time that is how I felt and the decision I made was for many different reasons and only I know the reasons and in the end, I tried to do the right thing.

“I thought it was best to do it at the time and then best to come back to Europe and play for Ajax, which I really enjoyed.

“It was a really tough period when I left Liverpool, I was there for a long period of time, 12 years.

“Leaving Liverpool itself was huge and really difficult. It was going to be hard because it had been my life for so long, and then it is just gone like that [clicks fingers], so I have struggled for a period after that.

“I couldn’t watch a lot of games, I certainly couldn’t watch Liverpool. I didn’t watch a lot of Premier League stuff then…probably picked the right place for that, I was halfway around the world.

“It was tough, but when you leave Liverpool - because I was there for so long, because I had such an attachment and I dedicated a large part of my life there - when I left I found it really difficult and I suppose whatever I did or wherever I went… I don’t know what it felt like, it felt like a break-up.”