Jude Bellingham possesses an ‘elite mentality’ and will secure his spot in the England team. That’s according to Jordan Henderson, who became Bellingham’s closest confidant within the England camp after the pair developed a strong friendship. Three Lions manager Thomas Tuchel sent shockwaves through the football world by omitting Real Madrid sensation Bellingham from his squad for fixtures against Wales and Latvia.
However, Henderson says Bellingham has boosted England’s performances and dismissed suggestions that the 22-year-old has an inflated ego, describing him as a “world-class person”. The England veteran declared:
“Like I said, when he first came to the team, he was mentally mature beyond his years. So he’s been performing at the highest level for a long time.
“He’s come back from a long shoulder injury that has been nagging him for quite some time. For him, it’s about getting back to full fitness, making sure his shoulder is fully recovered, getting some minutes on the pitch and getting his rhythm.”
“I’m sure he’ll be up for international time in the next week or so.
“He’s very special, he’s very special. We have some special players on this team to be fair. But with Jude, I think we knew when he first came to the team that he was a very special player.
“The way he trains, the way he lives his life around football, he loves the game, he wants to improve, he has ability on the pitch. I know he’s a world-class player and there’s a lot of stories and a lot of headlines, but for him it’s just the focus on football.
“He’s been injured for a few months. I know what he’s like. He’ll be focused on his football and making sure he’s as healthy as possible.
Tuchel sparked controversy earlier this year when he commented on Bellingham’s on-pitch behavior, saying that even his own mother had “repulsed” some of the England star’s actions.
Following last month’s 5-0 win in Serbia – a game in which Bellingham did not play – Torschell said there was “no attitude after the mistake, no frustration, no sprinkles, no eyeballs, no bad words.”
It remains unclear whether these comments were directed at Bellingham. However, Henderson staunchly defended his international teammate, insisting that his national perception was misplaced. He added:
“From the outside, you can’t listen to noise, media, etc. because a lot of the time it can be true or misinterpreted.
“He is a world-class player, a world-class person and he will make the England team.
