Jordan Henderson Makes a Surprising Return to England Squad
In a surprising turn of events, Jordan Henderson has been recalled to the England national team, joining Marcus Rashford and Myles Lewis-Skelly in Thomas Tuchel’s inaugural squad as the new England manager. This selection comes ahead of two crucial qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.
Henderson, a former Liverpool midfielder, has not represented England since November 2023. After a challenging period in Saudi Arabia, he has now found his footing at Ajax. His move to the Saudi Pro League initially seemed to jeopardize his international career, but after a year away from the squad—during which he was an unused substitute in a match against Belgium last March—the 34-year-old has been named among four central midfielders in Tuchel’s roster.
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Rashford, currently on loan at Aston Villa from Manchester United, has also been included for the first time in a year. He has started the season brightly under Unai Emery’s management. Meanwhile, 18-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly receives his first senior call-up, alongside Dan Burn, the versatile defender for Newcastle, who is making his senior squad debut.
Tuchel has opted to bring Reece James back into the fold, having previously managed the full-back at Chelsea. In the attacking department, Spurs’ Dominic Solanke has been chosen as Harry Kane’s backup, edged out ahead of Villa’s Ollie Watkins.
Notably absent from the squad is Jack Grealish, with both Jarrod Bowen and Anthony Gordon selected instead of the Manchester City winger. Morgan Gibbs-White of Nottingham Forest, a key player in their surprising Champions League campaign, is another significant omission. Additionally, Manchester United’s Harry Maguire and Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton also miss out.
The England team will host Albania on Friday, March 21, at Wembley Stadium, marking Tuchel’s first match in charge, followed by a fixture against Latvia on Monday, March 24, also at the national stadium.
How Henderson Earned His England Recall
The reasoning behind Henderson’s recall remains somewhat ambiguous, and clarity will likely emerge when Tuchel addresses the media later on Friday morning. On one hand, Henderson’s status as a former favorite of previous England manager Gareth Southgate, combined with his role as captain of a team poised to win the Dutch title, supports his inclusion. However, he has only played 38 minutes in Ajax’s last four league matches, raising questions about his current form.
Henderson has been battling a hamstring injury since February and has only managed to complete a full 90 minutes once since then, which occurred in their recent Europa League defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt. In that match, he picked up a yellow card, leading to his suspension for the return leg. His inclusion in Tuchel’s squad suggests a shift in the tactical approach the new England manager may be aiming for.
This pragmatic decision, while perhaps not the most thrilling, indicates Tuchel’s interest in leveraging Henderson’s experience in the England setup as a potential stop-gap before introducing younger midfield talents. Consequently, this could be a setback for players like Conor Gallagher of Atletico Madrid, who recently scored against Real Madrid, and Palace’s Wharton, who was a surprising call-up for Euro 2024.
England Squad in Full
Goalkeepers:
- Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace)
- Jordan Pickford (Everton)
- Aaron Ramsdale (Southampton)
- James Trafford (Burnley)
Defenders:
- Dan Burn (Newcastle United)
- Levi Colwill (Chelsea)
- Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace)
- Reece James (Chelsea)
- Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa)
- Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal)
- Tino Livramento (Newcastle United)
- Jarell Quansah (Liverpool)
- Kyle Walker (AC Milan, loan from Manchester City)
Midfielders:
- Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)
- Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace)
- Jordan Henderson (Ajax)
- Curtis Jones (Liverpool)
- Cole Palmer (Chelsea)
- Declan Rice (Arsenal)
- Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa)
Forwards:
- Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United)
- Phil Foden (Manchester City)
- Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United)
- Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
- Marcus Rashford (Aston Villa, loan from Manchester United)
- Dominic Solanke (Tottenham Hotspur)
