Jordan Henderson

Jordan Henderson is one of an exciting new generation of England footballers being given an opportunity in the national team under Fabio Capello. The talented midfield player was given his England debut against France at the tender age of 20 – in the same game as new team-mate Andy Carroll made his first international appearance – after splendid performances for the Under 19 and Under 21 teams. He arrived at Anfield from Sunderland in June 2011 with a reputation as one of the country’s most promising young players and has continued to impress. He had come through the ranks at Sunderland, having joined the club at the age of seven, making his first-team debut against Chelsea in November 2008 and helping the Black Cats to successive Under 18 League titles. Half a season’s loan in the first team at Championship Coventry helped significantly in his development and he made the breakthrough as a regular in the senior side at the Stadium of Light in the 2009-10 campaign, totalling 38 appearances during the campaign and being crowned Sunderland’s Young Player of the Year – a title he retained in 2010-11. He left Sunderland with a tally of five goals from 79 appearances.