Henderson backs Bellingham as England’s World Cup ‘X-factor’

Jordan Henderson has backed Jude Bellingham to be a decisive player for England at the World Cup, saying the midfielder can bring the team an “X-factor” despite recent scrutiny of his international performances.

Bellingham is part of a key selection debate before England’s tournament opener against Croatia, with Thomas Tuchel weighing whether he or Morgan Rogers starts in the number 10 role. The discussion comes after criticism of Bellingham’s England form and his own previous suggestion that he had been treated as a scapegoat within the camp.

Henderson, now described in the source as a 35-year-old Brentford midfielder and former Liverpool captain, spoke warmly about Bellingham’s development since his first England cap. He pointed not only to Bellingham’s match-winning qualities but also to his role inside the squad, especially in supporting younger and newer players.

One example cited was Bellingham presenting Rio Ngumoha with his England legacy cap and speaking in the dressing room after Ngumoha’s debut in a 1-0 friendly win over New Zealand. For editors, the central angle is not just whether Bellingham starts against Croatia, but how much weight England should place on his leadership and tournament experience at 22.