The decision to bring the ex-Liverpool captain back into the Three Lions fold has taken everyone by surprise, but maybe there's method to the madness

Four years have passed since Roy Keane questioned Jordan Henderson's presence in the England squad for Euro 2020. "I've heard people say they want him around the place – but for what?" the Irishman asked on . "Does he do card tricks? Does he have a sing-song? Does he do quizzes in the evenings?"

Here we are again, though, wondering what Henderson has done to convince new England boss Thomas Tuchel that he warranted a recall to the national team set-up at 34 years of age. At least back in 2021, it wasn't Henderson's quality that was the concern, but his fitness, as the then-Liverpool captain had only just recovered from an operation on his groin that sidelined him for nearly three months.

Now, though, there is legitimate doubt over whether Henderson can still cut it at the very highest level. After all, his legs appeared to be going even before he left Merseyside for the Middle East in the summer of 2023.

However, Henderson is the skipper of an Ajax side presently six points clear at the top of the Eredivisie, so is there some method to the apparent madness of ending the veteran midfielder's international exile at the expense of younger and more exciting options such as Conor Gallagher, Elliot Anderson, Angel Gomes and Adam Wharton?

Below, GOAL explores the most contentious call of Tuchel's first squad announcement…

Getty Images Sport'Why boo him?'

It was widely presumed that Henderson's move to Saudi Arabia would spell the end of his England career, but while his money-motivated transfer to Al-Ettifaq ruined his reputation as an ally of the LGBTQ+ community, it didn't damage his international prospects. Sir Gareth Southgate continued to call upon one of his most trusted lieutenants while he was playing in front of crowds of a few hundred people in Dammam.

The then-manager even leapt to Henderson's defender after he was booed by some sections of the Wembley crowd while wearing the captain's armband during a friendly against Australia in October 2023. "I really don't understand it," Southgate said. "I know what's created it, but it defies logic that you would give a player who is playing and putting his heart and soul into playing for England… Why boo him? How is [booing] going to help him or the team?

"He is a player with 79 caps for England. His commitment and what he has delivered for England is exceptional. His role on and off the pitch is phenomenally important. He has taken Jude Bellingham under his wing. He knitted things together on the field tonight in a team with not a lot of caps."

AdvertisementGetty Images Sport'Big miss'

Still, Southgate welcomed Henderson's decision to bring an abrupt end to his spell in the Saudi Pro League by joining Ajax during the winter transfer window as "it's easier to assess somebody playing in a European League". It's also highly probable that he would have included Henderson in his Euro 2024 squad had the veteran not picked up a muscular injury in March of that year that kept him out of action for five weeks at a critical point of the selection process.

"He just hasn't been able to get up to the intensity we need in the games since then," Southgate explained after leaving Henderson out of his provisional panel for Germany. "But he'll be a big miss. He's an exceptional individual, a fantastic human being and a fantastic professional. It was a difficult call to make."

AFP'Leadership qualities'

The injury certainly came as a bitter blow to Henderson, who had made an solid if unspectacular start to life in Amsterdam, where he had been welcomed with open arms by an Ajax side that were still recovering from a dreadful start to the season that had cost Maurice Steijn his job

"We wanted an experienced midfielder with leadership qualities," Ajax boss John van 't Schip enthused after Henderson's January arrival. "Partially due to injuries in the team, we were looking for someone who could step in immediately. Jordan is that type of player."

Van 't Schip was so taken with Henderson, in fact, that he handed him the captain's armband while regular skipper Steven Bergwijn was sidelined by a hamstring problem in February and March of last year.

"He is a real professional, he is a leader, I think you can see it on the pitch," the interim coach told reporters. "And the boys around him, they feel that and accept that as well. He communicates with the players on and off the field. He tries to help players recover better and also takes them into the gym."

Getty Images Sport'Be a man and stand your ground'

Henderson's impact on the field wasn't quite as impressive. While he was constantly lauded for his drive and determination, Ajax won just three Eredivisie games with him in the starting line-up as they ended up finishing a disappointing fifth in the table, while also suffering a humiliating 4-0 loss in the second leg of their Conference League last-16 tie with Aston Villa.

However, after Van 't Schip was replaced at the helm by Francesco Farioli during the summer, the 35-year-old Italian concluded from his very first conversation with Henderson that there was no better man to lead his new-look Ajax side.

The wisdom of that decision came under serious scrutiny in January, though, as Henderson gave the armband to team-mate Remko Pasveer ahead of the Europa League clash with Galatasaray to avoid any media duties amid speculation that he was on the verge of joining Monaco.

"Jordan wanted to focus on the match and not on peripheral matters," the goalkeeper told reporters. "Jordan does not want it to be about him but about the match. It is good that I can take over from him. That way we are there for each other. What you, the media, want to make of it, is up to you. This is his feeling and then I have his back."

Of course, there was never any chance of the temporary change of captaincy causing anything other than controversy. Frank de Boer called it "complete nonsense", while fellow Ajax legend Wesley Sneijder called on Henderson to "be a man and stand your ground".

The former attacking midfielder added: "You play the match, you have the armband on and after the match, you say: 'Yeah, guys, I don't know yet. Something is going on. We'll see.' Right now you get speculation and you create a lot of unrest."