Jordan Pickford Praises Recall Of Leader Jordan Henderson For England's Upcoming World Cup Qualifiers

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Jordan Pickford has expressed his approval of Thomas Tuchel's decision to bring Jordan Henderson back into the England squad. Tuchel announced his first England team last Friday for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia. Henderson's inclusion was unexpected, given his recent absence from the national team following his move to Saudi Arabia and subsequent transfer to Ajax.

Pickford believes that Henderson, at 34, can offer the experience and leadership that the Three Lions need. "His desire to want to win and what he has won and achieved is driven by himself," Pickford stated. "He's a winner and a big leader." He added that having Henderson back is beneficial for the squad, highlighting Henderson's past role as vice-captain in 2018 alongside Harry Kane.

Henderson has earned 81 caps for England since his debut in November 2010. Only Harry Kane, Kyle Walker, John Stones, and Raheem Sterling have more appearances for the national team. Pickford feels that Henderson's presence can instill a winning mentality in the squad, which has reached two Euros finals under Gareth Southgate but seeks further success under Tuchel.

"We've been knocking on the door for a while now," Pickford said. "We've been to two finals, a semi-final, and a quarter-final." He emphasized that it's about taking the next step towards lifting trophies, which is Tuchel's goal as manager.

The inclusion of Dan Burn in the squad marks his first call-up, which Pickford considers a significant achievement. He also praised Henderson's winning mentality from his time at Liverpool as both player and captain. According to Pickford, having more leaders like Henderson in the team will enhance training standards and create a better environment for everyone involved.

When asked if England missed Henderson during their Euro 2024 final loss to Spain, Pickford replied: "Jord's a great lad and respected by all players and staff. I don't think we will ever know if he was a miss as we got to the final." He acknowledged that Tuchel's decision to include Henderson is positive due to his leadership qualities.

This season, Henderson has made 39 appearances across all competitions for Ajax. His return to international duty is seen as an opportunity to bring valuable experience back into the England camp.