Stuart Pearce insists that ‘every team in world football’ needs a Jordan Henderson in their side

Former England defender Stuart Pearce has claimed that ‘every team in world football’ needs a Jordan Henderson in their side.

The inclusion of the Liverpool captain in England’s 3-0 win over Wales has come under scrutiny by some fans, with calls for younger more attacking players to be named in the starting line-up.

Henderson produced a solid display though to help the Three Lions reach the last-16 of the World Cup – where they will meet Senegal on Sunday.

Pearce told talkSPORT that Henderson is the ‘starting point with the togetherness’ in Gareth Southgate’s squad.

He went on to add: ‘He’s driving it on and getting us over the line. When he came on in the USA game we were flat as a pancake.

‘We’re not privy to see what goes on on the training pitch and around the camp and how he leads it and at his club but I tell you what he drives it as much as Gareth Southgate, make no mistake about that.

Stuart Pearce believes every team in world football could do with a player like Henderson

He described the Liverpool captain as the ‘starting point’ for the ‘togetherness’ in the squad

‘He’s played his part today, he’s probably had more influence on the game than Jude Bellingham. But we want Jude Bellingham in the team because we think there’s improvement.

‘You need a Jordan Henderson around every football team in world football, I’m telling you.’

Henderson was one of four changes in Southgate’s squad as he came in for Chelsea’s Mason Mount – a move that gave Borussia Dortmund star Bellingham more freedom to attack.

The 32-year-old had come on as one of Southgate’s first substitutes in the goalless draw with the United States a – move that was criticised by many England fans on social media, with the Three Lions then in need of a goal.

Henderson will now hope to have a place in the starting eleven when England face Senegal in the last-16 on Sunday.