Gareth Southgate jets out to Amsterdam to watch Jordan Henderson on Ajax debut despite not once visiting Middle East during former Liverpool captain’s controversial Al-Ettifaq stint
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During Jordan Henderson’s six-month stay in Saudi Arabia, Gareth Southgate has not once bothered to travel to the Middle East to keep an eye on him.
Perhaps he would have done that later in the season if Henderson had stayed at Al Ettifaq.
“As time goes by, we will see more Milan, Madrid and Bayern Munich, as well as going to Hendo,” the England manager said in October.
That opportunity never came as Henderson fought his way out of the Middle East, but it spoke volumes that on a day with five Premier League matches, Southgate was immediately present for his Ajax debut against unbeaten Eredivisie leaders PSV, with Henderson admitted to Mail Sport that he did not know.
‘It’s nice to know he came. He has chosen a great and intense match to watch,” said Henderson.
Jordan Henderson had no idea Gareth Southgate had seen his debut for Ajax in person
England boss Southgate was joined by good friend Steve Cooper in the stands in Amsterdam
The Eredivisie is not the Premier League, but PSV is a Champions League level opponent and it was undoubtedly a step up in intensity compared to the seventeen games he played in the Saudi Pro League.
As Henderson spoke, you also got the sense that he was desperate to move on.
“For me and my family, we’ve felt right at home here and that really helps when you go on the field, when you’re happy,” he said, before admitting how much he missed playing in front of a big crowd. , with some of those matches played in Saudi Arabia in front of fewer than a thousand fans.
‘It felt incredible. “I had a little bit of nervous excitement just to get out there and actually play,” Henderson added.
Over 95 minutes in front of a packed crowd, the 33-year-old delivered the kind of performance so common in a Liverpool shirt: vocal, full of energy and regularly on the ball in a defensive role. Only Ajax’s two central defenders had more ball contacts than the 64 Henderson managed.
The former Liverpool captain made a controversial move to the Middle East last summer
Henderson returned to Europe last month and signed for Ajax in a surprise move
The former Liverpool captain made his debut for the Amsterdam team on Saturday
It was nothing special, but it was certainly a welcome reminder for Southgate, who has picked Henderson in all his tournament squads so far, although he is unlikely to have much tougher tests in the Dutch league between now and the Euros.
Henderson will turn 34 the day after England start their campaign against Serbia in Gelsenkirchen this summer and while it will prove divisive – if he makes the 23-man squad as expected – it will ultimately be the choice of Ajax’s Henderson rather than the Henderson of Al Ettifaq. a much easier decision for the England manager.