Ex-Premier League footballer Dean Ashton has admitted he wouldn’t want to play with Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson because of his leadership approach.
Henderson played the full 90 minutes for England in their 3-0 win over Wales to see them top Group B.
The 32-year-old put in a typically determined and passionate performance in the midfield during his 72nd cap for the Three Lions.
It was his first competitive start under Gareth Southgate for over a year, but his leadership approach wasn’t for Ashton.
He said on talkSPORT: “He’d do my head in, to play with him.
“We had great seats and we were right there, and he was absolutely screaming at Phil Foden at times, both good and bad.
“He was so loud.
“But I guess that’s what he brings; he brings that level of intensity, he brings that level of competitiveness all of the time.
“He’s the one that’s trying to lift everybody, to get them going… I probably wouldn’t enjoy playing with him because of that, but it’s great to watch.”
TIF Thoughts on Ashton’s comments…
The Liverpool skipper’s leadership is one of the key reasons for his place in both the Reds’ and England’s side.
While he’s arguably not the most talented in either midfield – he only ranks 15th in Jurgen Klopp’s squad for average rating with a 6.52 rating this season from WhoScored – we feel his impact on the team sees him deservedly hold a crucial role.
Featuring 277 times under Klopp, it’s clear that his teammates and managers don’t share Ashton’s opinion, even fellow talkSPORT pundit Stuart Pearce disagreed by saying, “You need a Jordan Henderson around every football team in world football.”