Lack of midfield that Henderson depth means is safe for now

THE first international break since the start of the season and the end of the transfer window comes with a fresh headache for Gareth Southgate ahead of tomorrow's European Championship qualifier against Ukraine.

- Dan Kilpatrick

When England last met back in June, Jordan Henderson was Liverpool captain and Southgate's Mr Dependable, starting the big wins over North Macedonia and Malta, which all but assured safe passage to Germany.

Since then, Henderson has become the first England player to be tempted by the Saudi gold rush and it remains to be seen how Southgate responds to the development ahead of next summer, with tomorrow's match here in Wroclaw, Poland, potentially offering an early indication.

If England were playing another World Cup quarter-final tomorrow, Southgate would ely want to start Henderson, who has offered England a reassuring balance in midfield since Qatar, allowing Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham more freedom to get forward and express themselves.

Henderson's defection to the Saudi Pro League leaves his long-term place in the England team in doubt, however, even if the midfielder revealed he had received assurances from Southgate that he would still be in consideration before joining Al-Ettifaq.