ENGLAND are a stronger team with Jude Bellingham, says Jordan Henderson.
Bellingham, 22, was snubbed by Thomas Tuchel for Thursday's friendly with Wales and Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier in Latvia, despite returning to action with Real Madrid following shoulder surgery.
Henderson, who is Bellingham’s mentor, said: “The players know what Jude is like as a person and as a player
“He is a world-class player and a world-class person. He makes the England team.
“When he plays, England are even better because of the type of player that he is.
“What Jude has achieved in his career so far, at such a young age, doesn’t happen normally.
“He has been coming back from a long injury.
“It is about getting back to full fitness, making sure that his shoulder is fully recovered, that he gets minutes and gets a rhythm.
“He is very special. We have a few special players in this squad but with Jude, we all knew he was a very special player when he first came into the squad.”
Bellingham played with strapping on his shoulder during Euro 2024 and scored a sensational last-gasp overhead equaliser against Slovakia to keep England in the tournament.
But the 44-cap star has not always played his best for the Three Lions.
And the midfielder was left out of this squad along with in-form Phil Foden and Jack Grealish.
Boss Tuchel insisted it would have been unfair to change the squad which won 5-0 in Serbia last month, although Bukayo Saka replaced injured Arsenal pal Noni Madueke.
Henderson, 35, also says it is a mistake to judge players on their behaviour on the pitch, with Bellingham known to be stroppy during matches.
The Brentford midfielder added: “A lot of players can be like that but off the pitch they can be a completely different person and really chilled and laid back, so you can’t judge players in terms of personality just by watching them play football.”
