Jamie Carragher admits he’s ‘not surprised’ Jordan Henderson looks likely to start with Declan Rice

Jamie Carragher is backing Gareth Southgate‘s decision to call upon Jordan Henderson for England’s final group-stage clash against Wales after their drab 0-0 draw with USA last time out.

Liverpool midfielder Henderson is set to get the nod ahead of either Jude Bellingham or Mason Mount, who both started the opening two fixtures for the Three Lions at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

The 32-year-old came off the bench in their 0-0 draw with USA on Friday evening and made an impact, providing some much needed support for Declan Rice in the midfield. 

Jordan Henderson looks likely to start for England against Wales in their group-stage match

The Liverpool midfielder is set to create a more defensive midfield alongside Declan Rice

The former Liverpool defender Carragher has insisted it makes sense to provide more ‘balance’ after Rice was ‘overrun’ in the middle of the park against USA. 

‘I actually think the balance of having Declan Rice and another similar type of midfielder there, it was Kalvin Phillips in the last tournament, and that partnership worked really well,’ Carragher told Sky Sports via Football Daily.

‘If we’re going to play 4-3-3, you want at least one of your midfield players to be offensive, Bellingham is that. They also had Mason Mount in there.

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher insisted it makes sense to provide more ‘balance’

‘Gareth has been accused of being pragmatic and defensive, but the first two games of a major tournament he has put Mason Mount and Jude Bellingham as attacking midfield players with Declan Rice in behind, so that’s not defensive.

‘But as the tournament goes on and we saw in times in that game against the US, Declan Rice got overrun and it felt like he was outnumbered. At times he needs a bit of help.

‘I thought the change of Jordan Henderson changed the game for England, so I’m not surprised he’s coming in and playing there.

Carragher also believes Rice (pictured) got ‘overrun’ in England’s drab 0-0 draw with USA

‘It may be a tussle between Bellingham and Mount going forward in this tournament. We’ll see how fit Kalvin Phillips gets. 

‘I don’t think Gareth Southgate will go with the midfield that he’s gone with in the first two games when they get to the knock-out stages against a top nation.’ 

Boss Southgate opted for a combination of Rice and Kalvin Phillips during their path to the Euro 2020 final, where they lost on penalties to Italy in the last major tournament.

It seems after being more bold in the opening two fixtures at the World Cup, Southgate could return to a similar set-up, but Phillips has only just returned from injury – therefore Henderson will be the preferred option at present.