Jordan Pickford supports Thomas Tuchel’s selection of ‘strong leader’ Jordan Henderson for the England squad in the World Cup qualifiers.

In a significant move for the England national team, Jordan Pickford has come out in support of Jordan Henderson’s recall, describing Thomas Tuchel’s decision to reintegrate the 34-year-old as “a great move.”

Henderson, who has been absent from the England squad since November 2023, has been selected for the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia. The Ajax skipper boasts an impressive record, having earned 81 caps for the Three Lions since making his debut under Fabio Capello in 2010. He played a crucial role in England’s journey to the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup, the final of the 2020 UEFA European Championship, and the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

However, Henderson’s path to this recall has not been straightforward. Following a controversial transfer from Liverpool to Al-Ettifaq in the summer of 2023, he found himself out of favour under Gareth Southgate. After a brief stint in the Saudi Pro League, he made the switch to Ajax, where he has since regained his form.

Pickford, England’s No.1 goalkeeper, praised Henderson’s leadership qualities, stating, “His desire to want to win and what he has won and achieved is driven by himself. He’s a winner and a big leader. I think bringing Hendo back in is great for the squad.” He highlighted Henderson’s experience, noting that he served as vice-captain during the 2018 World Cup and was a key figure in the squad.

The Everton shot-stopper added, “Having leaders in your group is essential. 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.”

Reflecting on last year’s Euro final, Pickford acknowledged the uncertainty of whether England would have triumphed over Spain had Henderson been part of the squad. “We got to a final and didn’t win it,” he 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.”

Looking ahead, Pickford expressed optimism about England’s prospects, stating, “We’ve been knocking on the door for a while now. We’ve been to two finals, a semi-final and a quarter-final. 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.”

He also acknowledged the significance of Dan Burn’s first call-up, calling it a “great achievement.” With Henderson’s wealth of experience and winning mentality, Pickford believes that having such leaders in the squad will enhance the team’s chances of success. “The more leaders you have in the team, 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,” he concluded.