Jordan Henderson has praised Jude Bellingham as a beloved teammate and England's X-factor for the upcoming World Cup, defending the Real Madrid star against media criticism and highlighting his maturity and positive influence within the squad.
Henderson's High Praise for Bellingham
Speaking ahead of England's match against Croatia, Henderson emphasized Bellingham's growth since earning his first cap five years ago. 'I'm sure he will have a big impact for us in this tournament,' Henderson said. 'How much he's grown, as a player and as a person since then, is incredible really.'
Henderson noted that despite his young age, Bellingham often joins younger players in training drills, showing humility. 'I honestly couldn't speak highly enough of him,' he added.
Dismissing Media Criticism
Henderson rejected external perceptions of Bellingham as divisive, pointing to his mentorship of young players like Alex Scott, Ethan Nwaneri, Rio Ngumoha, and Josh King during a pre-tournament camp. 'If you ask any player in the group, they'll tell you how much of a good teammate he is,' Henderson said.
'He gave Rio his first cap after the game, which just gives you a little insight into what he is like behind the scenes. 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.'
Bellingham vs. Rogers Starting Battle
Henderson also addressed the competition between Bellingham and Morgan Rogers for the No. 10 role. 'It doesn't matter if you're starting or coming on, everyone has a role,' he said. 'They're very close and will support each other 100%. They've both got a big role to play.'
Croatia Defender Praises Kane
Meanwhile, Croatia defender Duje Caleta-Car praised England captain Harry Kane ahead of their clash. 'Kane impressed me in our match against England at the European Championship, even though he didn't score,' Caleta-Car said. 'His movement and positioning – you can clearly see he's a master of the game.'
