Former Liverpool FC striker Michael Owen has hailed Jordan Henderson as ‘world class’ and predicts that the Sunderland academy graduate will dominate England and Liverpool’s midfield for years to come. .
Owen, who spent eight seasons at Anfield and also represented the club’s hated rivals Manchester United, picked out the England midfielder for his eye-catching performances in 2014-15.
‘Everybody’s talking about Harry Kane and what a fantastic season in the Premier League,’ he said. ‘But I just want to give a mention to another homegrown player in Jordan Henderson. Since his move from Sunderland it was a little bit of a struggle.’
‘But in the last season he really has developed into a world-class football player. [He was] in the shadow of Steven Gerrard maybe, but with Gerrard on his way out, and the captaincy available, now is the time for Henderson to really develop and kick on his career.’
‘I think he’s going to be Liverpool and England’s dominant midfield player for years to come.’
Jordan Henderson, 25, has made dramatic improvement after a struggling start to his career on Merseyside with manager Brendan Rodgers even reportedly telling him that his career at the club was over in his first season in charge.
However with six goals and nine assists in 37 Premier League appearances last season, Henderson has proven a lot of his doubters wrong. He was the club’s vice captain last season and has been hotly tipped to replace Steven Gerrard as captain next term following the Reds icon’s move to LA Galaxy.
Arsenal FC star Jack Wilshere would have something to say about Michael Owen’s prediction that Henderson was set to dominate the national team midfield, of course, provided that he stays fit.