Jordan Henderson has proven so many people wrong – he has been Brentford’s player of the season by far so far.
That’s The Pitch Prospect’s opinion Jeff Stelling, WHO admitted he put his hands up in apology because he doubted the England star.
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Henderson is preparing for an emotional reunion with Liverpool when his old side travel to Brentford on Saturday.
The 35-year-old has not played against the Reds since leaving Anfield in 2023 to join Steven Gerrard at Saudi Pro League club Al Ettifaq.
He quickly made his comeback in Europe six months later, signing for Ajax in January 2024 before returning to the Premier League in July.
Henderson, who had been linked with Nottingham Forest and his childhood in Sunderland, instead signed a two-year contract with Brentford.
Read more about Jordan Henderson
His arrival caused a stir at the time, with Simon Jordan claiming he didn’t really have the 2019 Champions League-winning captain “with him”.
However, Henderson has since proven to be a revelation for the Bees, with Keith Andrews describing him as “indispensable” after the 2-0 win at West Ham.
Ahead of this weekend’s game, Brentford are as many points behind third-place Liverpool as they are in the bottom three, although they are many pundits’ choice for relegation after losing their manager, captain and two top goalscorers.
On Tuesday, breakfast presenter Stelling said: “I’ll put my hands up again. Jordan Henderson. Oh my God.
“He proved me and a lot of other people wrong. He controls everything. He wants the ball all the time. He makes them tick.”
“He never gives it away. For me, Brentford’s player of the season so far, he was brilliant by far.”
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Henderson was “a great newcomer”
Henderson has featured in all eight of Brentford’s Premier League games this season, with his debut being the only game in which he did not start.
The former Ajax star even provided two assists, in the 2-2 draw against Chelsea and the 3-1 win over Manchester United.
Arsenal legend Ray Parlor added: “Jordan brings his experience and I’m sure he’ll help a lot of young players too in the way you go into a game.”
“He was a fantastic signing. He also seems to really enjoy football. He’s a footballer. He’s had a great career.”
“Liverpool, absolutely brilliant. [At] Sunderland also had a great career. And now he obviously went to Saudi Arabia – Didn’t really work out. [He’s] come back to Europe. But now he is back in the Premier League. And yes, as you rightly said, Jeff, he always wants the ball.
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“He is always available. It must be a dream for the central defender to play in front of him because he always covers people.”
“So, yeah, he was a great recruit!”
Henderson struggled with Liverpool’s ‘separation’
The England international’s form for Brentford has seen him earn his 87th cap against Latvia and become an integral part of Thomas Tuchel’s squad.
Ahead of that game, Henderson spoke about his difficulties after leaving Liverpool, where he captained the club to Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup titles.
He said: “It was a really tough time when I left Liverpool. I was there for a long time, 12 years.
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“Leaving Liverpool itself was huge and really hard. It had been my life for so long and then it just happened (he snapped his fingers) so I struggled for a while after that.
“I had such a bond and spent a lot of my life there.
“I didn’t get to see many games, especially Liverpool, so I guess I picked the right place to do it since I was halfway around the world!”
“It felt like a breakup. It was just difficult. And I think if you ask a lot of players, when they leave a club, not just Liverpool, there’s a period of time that’s hard. But over time things change.”
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Henderson has to go to the World Cup with England
Former goalkeeper Ben Foster told The Pitch Prospect earlier this month that his former Three Lions teammate needs to be included in Tuchel’s US squad.
When asked about Henderson’s longevity following his return to the national team, eight-time England international Foster told Breakfast: “You need these guys.”
“Most of the players on this team are young men. They are young men and going to a World Cup is a big experience. There is a lot of pressure that comes with it.”
“A lot of people are watching what you do and you need a Jordan Henderson character to keep everyone under control.”
“Everyone looks at Jordan Henderson. He’s the captain without being the captain. Sometimes he’s almost like a mini-manager.”
“He will be the guy who, if England are playing on a Friday night and have a training group on Saturday, will be the guy who will lead the training group on Saturday and make sure everyone is pulling in the right direction.”
“No one is negative, Nellies. That’s what you need.”