Henderson praises 'big-game' Bellingham amid outside noise

KANSAS City, June 14 : England midfielder Jordan Henderson has leapt to the defence of Jude Bellingham, saying the polarising 22-year-old is central to the team despite outside scrutiny and that his influence is often misunderstood.

Bellingham has become a focal point for England both on and off the pitch, with his performances and demeanour often dissected by media and fans after a meteoric rise that has taken him from teenage prospect to one of the squad's leading figures.

The Real Madrid midfielder is a player fans and media seem to either love or hate, and his intense on-field emotions have sparked widespread debate over whether his behaviour stems from passion or ego.

There have been questions around whether he should start for England, who kick off the World Cup against Croatia in Dallas on Wednesday.

"I honestly couldn't speak highly enough of him," Henderson told reporters after England's training session. "I know a lot gets written in the media, and I find it hard to read sometimes, because I just know how big an influence he is on this team, how good a teammate he is off the field and what he gives us is just something really special.

"I think he really gives us the X-factor. He's had big moments in his career. He's a big-game player. He's got experience in tournaments, so he's a huge, huge player for us in this tournament."

While Bellingham's rapid ascent has meant increasing responsibility in major matches, Henderson was keen to highlight the contributions people do not see.

"If you ask any player in the group, they'll tell you how much of a good teammate he is, how well he trains," Henderson said. "I know he's young, but he's very mature in his head.

CONTROVERSIAL SELECTION

Henderson was a controversial selection