England star handed shock call up earmarked for key role by Thomas Tuchel
England boss Thomas Tuchel named his first Three Lions squad on Friday, with a couple of surprise choices from the former Chelsea and Bayern Munich head coach
by John Cross · The MirrorThomas Tuchel wants to create a “brotherhood” in the England dressing room - and has put Jordan Henderson at the heart of his plans.
Veteran Henderson, 34, was the shock inclusion in Tuchel’s first squad because even the former Liverpool captain admitted he thought his England career was over.
Tuchel had an original list of 55 names which he whittled down to 26 for the World Cup qualifiers with Albania and Latvia and most fans probably would have had Henderson on their long list.
Ajax midfielder Henderson last played for England in November 2023, missed out on last summer’s Euros and has had mixed fortunes since moving to Holland after a disastrous move to Saudi Arabia. But Tuchel not only insisted that Henderson is in the squad on his merits as a player but also as a leader in the dressing room as the England boss talked about trying to bring a club atmosphere to international duty.
Tuchel did admit that he has not been to see Henderson in action personally - his No.2 Anthony Barry went - but recalled their meeting on a video conference call.
Tuchel said: “I gave him a call and he said he’s pickable all the time, the club manages his minutes to bring him through the season. This was the foundation for the decision. He is also a serial winner.
“He is still the leader there, he is the vice captain there and brings to the team what he brings to every team. In terms of leadership, character, personality, energy, and because he made himself available by the way he played and the minutes he played we had the chance to bring him back.
“He will help talent to grow. He will help the talents to be there. If we nominate now everyone who is 20 because they’re then 22 in America this will not work.
“Jordan will make sure at the moment, in this camp, for everyone to be a better version. He will help us to build a team. I am very sure of that, otherwise I would not have done it.”
Henderson feels more like a cheerleader and good influence rather than a genuine choice over, for example, Morgan Gibbs-White. It was a similar story for Newcastle ’s uncapped defender Dan Burn who is 32 but also, at 6ft 7in, looks rather ungainly for an international player.
Again, you got a sense that this was about what Burn can bring to the dressing room as well as his playing abilities.
Former boss Gareth Southgate fostered togetherness through his reign but, at last summer’s Euros, it was not always a happy dressing room as some of the chemistry had gone.
Tuchel, who says he has only seen Southgate once and that was at Manchester City ’s game with Real Madrid, said: “I was surprised that Dan was never called up, but he's such a tall guy, but obviously it's easy to overlook him.
“These two phone calls, if you see the reaction from Jordan, this natural reaction when he was called up, and this natural reaction from Dan Burn, you instantly know that you picked the right guys.
“It is about building a team that loves to play with each other, that transports the spirit to the fans, to the nation, to the country, and it is about building a brotherhood.
“We cannot only do it with young players, and we cannot only do it with experienced players. It has to be a good balance, it has to be a good mix.”
Tuchel also recalled Marcus Rashford who has reignited his form and love for the game during his loan spell at Aston Villa.
There was a first call for Arsenal teenager Myles Lewis-Skelly with Tuchel acknowledging that he needs to be a “parent” to protect the young defender who has bypassed the under-21s but is needed among a raft of injuries at left back.
Ben White, who has made just one start in four months, was not picked this time but has made himself available again after a phone call with Tuchel.
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