THE boos could be heard as Jordan Henderson was subbed off in the second half of England’s 1-0 friendly win over Australia. This was Henderson’s first game back in his homeland after a controversial summer transfer to Al-Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia which has seemingly turned the Three Lions support against the midfielder.

Gareth Southgate claimed the reaction ‘defied logic.’ The England boss had already been questioned over his decision to include Henderson in his squad for the matches against Australia and Italy, but he reiterated his stance. “He is a role model in the squad,” said Southgate. “I don’t understand it.”

Henderson certainly was a role model. At Liverpool, he was a public advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, something that is still shamefully rare in football. This is why his move to Saudi Arabia, where being gay is illegal, hurt so many. This is why Henderson has been widely branded a hypocrite.

Southgate has frequently spoken well on social issues in the past. His empathy has made him a statesman for English football as a whole – see how Southgate defended his players from racism faced after the Euro 2020 final. On Henderson, though, Southgate has been blinded by his loyalty to the 33-year-old.

Even from a purely footballing perspective, England don’t need Henderson. He was already a fading force, hence why Liverpool were so willing to let him leave this summer, and so Southgate now has been better options to choose from in the centre of the pitch. Henderson isn’t good enough to play for England at this stage of his career.

What did Southgate learn by playing Henderson against Australia? Would it have been a better idea to use that friendly match to further establish the relationship between Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice as England’s first-choice double pivot? Could Harvey Elliott have been called up and introduced to the senior squad instead?

Henderson isn’t the only England player to have blinded Southgate through loyalty to his players. Harry Maguire, for example, continues to start matches at international level even after falling down the pecking order at Manchester United. Kalvin Phillips is another who hasn’t done much recently to justify his place in the squad.

There are still seven months until Euro 2024 kicks off, but Southgate won’t have many opportunities to experiment before the start of the tournament. He is tasked with building a team capable of lifting the trophy in Germany next summer and it’s difficult to envisage Henderson, and a few others, being good enough for that level.

“It’s not nice, your own fans, if they were booing. But listen, people have got their own opinions,” said Henderson after the reaction during the win over Australia. “Whenever I bump into anyone on the street it’s always been positive stuff and nice things said. But listen, it won’t change who I am and what I do for this team and for my country. I give absolutely everything every time.”

England boast one of the strongest squads in international football right now. Between the 2018 World Cup and Euro 2020, the Three Lions made significant progress under Southgate, but development has slowed since then. It could even be argued that England regressed at the 2022 World Cup where they only made the quarter-finals.

Anything less than winning Euro 2024 will be considered a failure. This is the level England are currently operating at, but Henderson stands out as someone who has been left behind by the players around him. For on and off-the-pitch reasons, Southgate should allow himself to let go of the midfielder.