England: Harry Kane reacts to Jordan Henderson recall after Thomas Tuchel endorsement

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Evening Standard

·21 March 2025

England: Harry Kane reacts to Jordan Henderson recall after Thomas Tuchel endorsement

The veteran midfielder is back in the fold under the new head coach

Harry Kane has admitted that England were “light on leadership” during last summer’s European Championship and given his backing to Jordan Henderson’s recall.

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Kane captained England to the final of the tournament in Germany, but Gareth Southgate admitted that his young squad struggled to deal with heightened expectation and criticism en route to their eventual defeat to Spain.

Southgate had left a number of senior players - including Henderson, Raheem Sterling and the injured Harry Maguire - out of his squad on the eve of the tournament, leaving Kane as the head of a new-look leadership group, alongside Kyle Walker, Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham.

On the same day that new boss Thomas Tuchel accused Southgate’s England of being “afraid to lose” in Germany, Kane admitted the absence of Henderson, among others, was keenly felt.

"Whenever you go to major tournaments, I don't think it's just about having the best players in the best moments,” he said. “It’s about creating an environment where you allow other people to thrive, people knowing their roles within the squad.

“I would say we were a little bit light on leadership in the summer. Especially when things are not going so well, or there’s a lot of noise around the camp. That’s when you need players like me and someone like Jordan, you need your experienced players to take that responsibility on.”

I've spoken in other tournaments about how valuable he is to the team, not just when he is on the pitch but off the pitch as well

Harry Kane on Jordan Henderson

Henderson’s return was the biggest surprise when Tuchel named his first squad last week, ahead of tonight’s opening World Cup qualifier against Albania at Wembley.

After being left out of the Euros, the 34-year-old was also overlooked by interim boss Lee Carsley last autumn and many presumed his international career was over.

However, Tuchel has said that the Ajax midfielder “embodies everything we try to build” and Kane believes he will not just be a leading presence off the pitch, but capable of adding to his 81 caps on it, too.

“Hendo brings that experience as well as anyone I’ve played with,” Kane added. “I've spoken in other tournaments about how valuable he is to the team, not just when he is on the pitch but off the pitch as well.

“When you hit your thirties you’re seen as old but I think he’s got a lot to offer us off the pitch and on the pitch. Seeing him in training this week has solidified that.

“From my point of view, it’s great to have him. I feel like we complement each other very well, as captain and as another leader.”