Jordan Henderson has proved so many people wrong - he's been Brentford's player of the season so far by a mile.
That’s the view of talkSPORT’sJeff Stelling,who admitted he has held his hands up in apology over doubting the England star.
Jeff Stelling praises Jordan Henderson as Brentford's player of the season
5
Henderson continues to prove the doubters wrong
Henderson is gearing up for an emotional reunion with Liverpool when his old team make the trip to Brentford on Saturday.
The 35-year-old hasn't lined up against the Reds since he quit Anfield in 2023 to join Steven Gerrard at Saudi Pro League club Al Ettifaq.
He swiftly made a comeback to Europe six months later, signing for Ajax in January 2024, before returning to the Premier League in July.
Henderson, who had been linked with Nottingham Forest and boyhood Sunderland, instead signed a two-year deal at Brentford.
read more on Jordan henderson
His arrival raised eyebrows at the time, with Simon Jordan claiming he wasn't really 'having' the 2019 Champions League-winning captain.
However, Henderson has since proved a revelation for the Bees, with Keith Andrews calling him 'imperative' after the 2-0 win at West Ham.
Ahead of this weekend's match, Brentford are as many points adrift of Liverpool in third as they are of the bottom three, despite being many pundits' pick for relegation after losing their manager, captain, and two top goalscorers.
Speaking on Tuesday, Breakfast host Stelling said: “I'm going to hold my hands up again. Jordan Henderson. Oh, my goodness.
“He has proved me and a lot of other people so, so, so wrong. He controls everything. He wants the ball constantly. He makes them tick.
“He never gives it away. He has been brilliant for me, Brentford's player of the season so far, by a mile.”
Jordan Henderson stats
5
Henderson has proved a vital cog to Brentford's rebuild after a summer exodus
Henderson's 'been a great signing'
Henderson has featured in all eight of Brentford's Premier League matches this season, with his debut the only game he didn't start.
The former Ajax star has even chipped in with two assists, in the 2-2 draw with Chelsea and the 3-1 victory over Manchester United.
Arsenal legend Ray Parlour added: “Jordan's come in with his experience, and I'm sure he's helping a lot of young players as well, there in the way you go into a game.
“He's been a fantastic signing. He looks like he's really enjoying his football as well. He's a football man. He's had a great career.
“Liverpool, absolutely brilliant. [At] Sunderland, he had a great career as well. And now he's gone, obviously, to Saudi — Didn't really work out. [He's] come back to Europe. But now he's back in the Premier League. And yeah, as you rightly said, Jeff, he always wants the ball.
Jordan Henderson has proved so many doubters wrong at Brentford
5
“He's always available. He must be a dream for the centre-half to play in front of because he's always covering people as well.
“So, yeah, he's been a great signing!”
Henderson struggled with Liverpool ‘break-up’
The England international's form for Brentford has seen him claim his 87th cap against Latvia as a core part of Thomas Tuchel's squad.
Ahead of that match, Henderson opened up on his struggles after leaving Liverpool, where he captained the club to Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup glory.
He said: “It was a really tough period when I left Liverpool. I was there for a long period of time, 12 years.
Henderson won every trophy on offer at Liverpool but then it was over in an instant
5
Henderson won every trophy on offer at Liverpool but then it was over in an instantCredit: AFP
“Leaving Liverpool itself was huge and really difficult. It had been my life for so long, and then it had just gone like that (he clicked his fingers), so I struggled for a period after that.
“I had such an attachment, and I dedicated a large part of my life there.
“I couldn’t watch a lot of games; I certainly couldn’t watch Liverpool. So I probably picked the right place for that, as I was halfway around the world!
“It felt like a break-up. It was just difficult. And I think if you ask a lot of players when they leave a club, not just Liverpool, there is a period of time which is hard. But after time, things change.”
Jordan Henderson faces Liverpool for the first time since leaving
5
Henderson's leadership qualities are still highly coveted by his current managers at club and country
Henderson must go to the World Cup with England
Former goalkeeper Ben Foster told talkSPORT earlier this month that his ex-Three Lions teammate has to be included in Tuchel's US squad.
Asked about Henderson's longevity after returning to the fols, eight-cap England player Foster told Breakfast: "You need these guys.
"Most of the players in this team, they're young men. They're young men, and it's a big experience going to a World Cup. A lot of pressure attached to it.
"A lot of people (are) watching what you're doing, and you need a Jordan Henderson character around the place to keep everybody in check.
"Everybody looks to Jordan Henderson. He's the captain without being the captain. He's almost like a mini-manager at times as well.
"He's going to be the guy that when England play on a Friday night and they've got a training group on a Saturday, he's going to be the guy leading the training group on the Saturday, making sure everybody is pulling in the right direction.
Read More on talkSPORT
"Nobody being negative Nellies. That's what you need."