It’s a case of what might have been for Jordan Henderson, who has been pictured on holiday in Portugal at the same time that his former England team-mates arrived in Germany for Euro 2024.
The man who was Gareth Southgate’s midfield mainstay for so long will not be taking part in the tournament after being left out of the 33-man provisional squad named last month.
Henderson’s decision to chase the vast fortunes on offer in the Saudi Arabian Pro League ultimately came back to bite him, despite trying to salvage his Tree Lions career with a move to Ajax in January.
Gareth Southgate’s 26-man group touched down in Germany on Monday while Henderson was photographed with his wife Rebecca at a resort in the Algarve.
The pair looked in a relaxed mood in their gym gear before driving off in a golf buggy.
Even at 33, Henderson would surely have been a strong candidate to make the final squad had he still been playing regularly for Liverpool. Such was the strength of Southgate’s faith in his abilities.
His £350,000-a-week Saudi dream at Al-Ettifaq turned into a nightmare following intense criticism from LGBTQ+ campaigners, with his family struggling to settle in the Middle East.
Henderson tried to retrieve the situation – and revive his Euro hopes – by signing for Ajax in January. But he found himself in a poor side that could only finish fifth in the Eredivisie amid off-field turmoil.
It all amounts to a self-inflicted fall from grace for the England regular after a year to forget.
Let’s not forget that Henderson was in the England squad as recently as March, an unused substitute in the 2-2 draw with Belgium at Wembley.
He captained the Three Lions in the friendly against Australia back in October and played in the Euro qualifiers against Italy and Malta after that.
During the Southgate era – and for some time prior to that – only injury had kept Henderson out of England’s midfield.
He was regarded as a ‘Mr Dependable’ figure in the engine room, rarely showy but full of energy and trustworthy to make the right pass or marshal team-mates. He is a model professional.
It was far from assured that Henderson would play much part out in Germany but Southgate may well have valued his vast experience around the camp.
