jordan henderson backed Jude Bellingham to be England’s X-factor at the World Cup and said the midfielder is loved by the group. His comments land before Wednesday’s match against Croatia, where Bellingham is vying with Morgan Rogers for the No 10 role.
Henderson on Bellingham
Henderson said he would not downgrade what Bellingham brings to England, calling him a player who can swing a tournament and a teammate the squad trusts. "I’m sure he will have a big impact for us in this tournament," he said, before adding, "He’s a huge player for us in this tournament" and, "He really gives us the X-factor in our team."
He also said the criticism aimed at Bellingham has not matched what he sees inside camp. "If you ask any player in the group, they’ll tell you how much of a good teammate he is, how well he trains," Henderson said, adding, "I do think a lot of the media and the stuff that gets written isn’t all true to be honest, or a lot of it is actually untrue."
England’s No 10 spot
The selection battle with Rogers adds the only real friction point to Henderson’s praise. Bellingham is competing to start at No 10 against Croatia on Wednesday, and Henderson said the two players are close enough to back each other without hesitation.
"It doesn’t matter if you’re starting or coming on, everyone has a role," he said. That is the practical edge for England: whichever way Thomas Tuchel goes, the player left out is still expected to matter, and Bellingham and Rogers are both said to be ready to support each other 100 percent.
Bellingham and England’s group
Henderson said he gave Bellingham his first England cap five years ago at Middlesbrough, then watched him grow as a player and as a person. He said Bellingham is one of the first players into the middle during rondos, a small detail that fits the larger picture of how the squad views him.
He also pointed to what Bellingham did during England’s pre-tournament training camp, looking after Alex Scott, Ethan Nwaneri, Rio Ngumoha and Josh King. After the game, Bellingham gave Rio his first cap, another sign of how Henderson sees him inside the camp: a senior influence with tournament experience and a large role even before the first ball is kicked.
