Jordan Henderson is fooling no-one over Wembley boos and only has himself to blame
Jordan Henderson received a far from welcome reception when leading England out at Wembley on Friday night.
Handed the captain’s armband by Gareth Southgate against Australia, with Harry Kane only on the bench, he led out a much-changed side in front of a 81,116 crowd as the international friendly marked the former Liverpool skipper’s first match on English soil since his controversial switch to Al-Ettifaq in the summer.
His name was met by a chorus of boos from sections of the home crowd before kick-off as the two teams were read out, while the 33-year-old was then jeered even louder when replaced by Kieran Trippier in the 62nd minute.
Both Henderson and Southgate would share their bemusement at the midfielder’s booing in the aftermath of Friday’s game.
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"I really don't understand it. He's a player, 79 caps for England,” said Southgate. “His commitment and what he's delivered for England is exceptional.
"His role on and off the pitch is phenomenally important… Some people decided to boo. I really don't understand what that's for.”
Meanwhile, having initially claimed he hadn’t heard the boos and didn’t know why he had received such treatment, Henderson would share his disappointment at such a reception.
“Not really. I don’t know (why I was booed). Do you?” he asked reporters, before it was put to him it might have something to do with his transfer to Saudi Arabia. “If people want to boo if I’m playing in a different country, that’s fine. Everyone is going to have an opinion over playing over in Saudi.
“I’ve spoken in the past about the reasons for that.
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