Paul Merson told Crouchy’s Year-Late Euros on Saturday night that Roy Keane’s comments on Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson are ’nonsense’.
The TV pundit thinks the Liverpool captain has been a ‘proper pro’ after he came off the bench to score for England last night.
The Three Lions wiped the floor with Ukraine in the quarter-finals of Euro 2020, with Henderson netting his first goal for his country during the 4-0 battering.
Before the start of the tournament, Keane questioned Henderson’s inclusion in Gareth Southgate’s 26-man squad, as he questioned whether he has been picked to play the ‘karaoke’.
But even though Henderson had fitness concerns heading into the tournament, Merson made it clear that he was selected because he is a ‘quality’ performer.
“He’s a proper pro, isn’t he,” said Merson. “He’s a real professional. He has got on with it.
“He hasn’t been in the team and fair play to him. I know Roy Keane said ‘is he going because he’s playing Karaoke’.
“It’s nonsense. He goes because he’s a quality player. Great for the team and he’s not a moaner. For me, outstanding.”
Henderson may not have started a game for England at the Euro’s, but one thing is for sure, his leadership qualities would have been felt by his teammates off the field.
A number of these England players are inexperienced and they wouldn’t have felt such heat under pressure.
But Henderson has been there and done it.
Where it’s helping Liverpool end their 30-year drought to win the Premier League final or lifting the Champions League.
It may not be visible to supporters on the field of play, but there’s no doubt that Henderson would have been, and still is, a huge help to these young and inexperienced English players.
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