England manager Gareth Southgate has hailed Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson and said he has ‘whispering talents’.
Henderson has won 69 caps for England since making his debut in a 2010 friendly against France. He has represented his country at the European Championships in 2012, 2016 and 2020, while he has also featured at the 2014 and 2018 World Cups, where he excelled during England’s run to the semi-finals.
He has slipped down the pecking order with the national team over the past year with Declan Rice, Kalvin Phillips and Jude Bellingham all impressing and this led to Henderson playing a bit-part role at last summer’s delayed Euro 2020.
READ MORE: Chelsea might have just put Liverpool's perfect Mohamed Salah replacement up for sale
READ MORE: Alan Shearer 'certain' about Liverpool signing as Man City message sent
However, Southgate, speaking on the ‘Jordan Henderson is Never Done’ documentary, presented by Nike Football, clearly still has huge admiration for the former Sunderland youngster.
Southgate said: “I remember a tucked in midfielder at Sunderland on the right-hand side and his ability to whip really wicked crosses into the box but the conversation that sticks in my mind is with Stuart Pearce [former England Under 21 coach].
“I remember going to watch the [England] Under 21s play and Stuart talking about how he thought this boy was going to be a really top player, how his mentality was going to be able to take him beyond so many others in the group.
“I was struck by that because, at that time, I was still learning about talent, youth development, what are the aspects that really make a difference on that journey.
“We can all spot the obvious talent but what about what they call whispering talents and so that conversation stuck with me forever really because you’re then looking and thinking ‘I’m going to track this kid and see how it all develops and how his career emerges really'”.
Henderson was left out of the most recent England squad for June's Nations League games as Southgate gave the midfeilder a rest after a gruelling campaign. However, he is expected to feature in the Three Lions' World Cup squad ahead of the tournament in Qatar this winter.
READ MORE
Chelsea might have just put Liverpool's perfect Mohamed Salah replacement up for sale
Thiago Alcantara names Liverpool team-mate as 'one of the best midfield players I’ve played with'
Jurgen Klopp has already strengthened his Liverpool midfield this summer without anyone realising
Liverpool should take advantage of familiar contract problem to sign boyhood Arsenal fan
Alan Shearer 'certain' about Liverpool signing as Man City message sent
