Jordan Henderson has not given up on extending his England career after insisting he will use a new lease of life at Chelsea to prove he can still perform at the highest level.
The 36-year-old was fuelled by criticism his twilight years were only good for squad development after unkindly being labelled a “cheerleader” for Thomas Tuchel’s national team.
Suggestions he was a good person to have in the dressing were raised again when he made his surprise move to Chelsea from Brentford in the summer as the Stamford Bridge side departed away from their model of recruiting younger players with high potential.
Henderson, a Champions League and Premier League winner with Liverpool, made his third start in the 2-0 win at Everton and, after two goals last week, showed his value to Xabi Alonso’s side.
He also believes he can still be worth an England place after being overlooked for selection for the recent Nations League matches due to his lack of game time.
“I will always have the desire for England,” said the midfielder, with whom Tuchel has kept in contact with since the summer’s World Cup.
“I still feel like I can play at the highest level but I have to do a job at Chelsea and put in good performances and wait and see.
“England’s always an honour and a big thing for me. If I feel like I’m playing at the highest level of course I would always want to be involved.
“As long as I am playing and feeling good then I would always want to give myself a chance [of a call up].
“Of course, that’s up to the manager and the decisions he makes on the squad and everything.
“I have just got to keep putting in good performances and then take it as it comes.”
Henderson’s role alongside Moisés Caicedo in central midfield has been a significant factor in back-to-back wins with victory at the Hill Dickinson Stadium Chelsea’s first Premier League clean sheet since January.
His performances are also dispelling the myth he is there as a role model to enforce squad standards.
“I’m enjoying the challenge. I think a lot of people spoke about the move when I came but for me I’ve just got to do my talking on the pitch,” he added.
“It helps when you’re playing with top players around you and I feel like the team’s really coming together.
“I don’t really think too much about what other people say. I have just as important a role as every other player on the team, I’ve just got to bring whatever I bring.
“But they also help me as well. It’s not all me coming here to help younger players, younger players can also help experienced players. I’m still learning, and I’m still improving.
“There are going to be so many different opinions I just try and use it as fuel, use it as energy, to prove people wrong again.
“I just want to do my business on the pitch. That’s where I do the talking really.”
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The difference between the two sides came down to the quality of the finishing in a fiercely-contested match.
Raw striker Thierno Barry squandered Everton’s only opportunity by heading straight at goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, later taken to hospital after a sickening clash of heads with Jarrad Branthwaite, with half an empty goal to aim at.
Just 44 seconds into the second half Pedro Neto swept home the crucial opener and reacted quickest to Henderson’s deflected free-kick to register his first Premier League double in the 90th minute.
