‘Youngsters give England a bright future’

LONDON: Jordan Henderson says England are ready to fulfil the growing expectations around their vibrant young team as the Euro 2020 qualifying campaign starts with the Czech Republic’s visit to Wembley on Friday.

Gareth Southgate’s squad are back together for the first time in 2019, with the Czechs their first test before a trip to Montenegro for the second qualifier on Monday.

For the first time in years, there is a sense England can emerge as one of the main contenders for international football’s top prizes.

After reaching the World Cup semi-finals for the first time since 1990, England rounded off a memorable 2018 by defeating Spain and Croatia to reach this year’s inaugural Nations League finals.

While that stands as impressive progress for England after decades of underachievement, Liverpool midfielder Henderson is confident the best is still to come for Southgate’s men.

With promising teenagers Jadon Sancho and Callum Hudson-Odoi and 20-year-old Declan Rice joining an England squad already bolstered by the rise of Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford and Dele Alli, among others, Henderson is enjoying the fresh feel to a group that plays without fear.

Sancho is unlocking his potential with Borussia Dortmund after leaving Manchester City, while Hudson-Odoi is a hot property despite still awaiting his first Premier League start with Chelsea.

Two more youngsters, Chelsea’s Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold. were also in the original squad but have dropped out injured. Another of Henderson’s Liverpool teammates, Joe Gomez, has won six England caps but is recovering from a broken leg.

“It is good, those younger players have so much talent. It’s good for England because I can see in a few years we are going to have big, big players,” he said.

“Young players who are maybe only starting now who are going to be more experienced and even better in a few years.”

“The future is bright really with all the young players coming through and how well they are doing, that’s really good for England.

“It’s up to me to try and help them when they come here and perform and feel comfortable around the lads and the squad to go out in a game and do what they do for their clubs.”

Southgate’s job has been aided by the rapid progress of the young English players under the astute guidance of Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool, Pep Guardiola with Manchester City and Mauricio Pochettino at Tottenham. In the past, club allegiances have created damaging divisions in the England squad, but Henderson insists the camaraderie is now strong enough to withstand that pressure.