The Three Lions take on Belgium tonight and Jermaine Pennant doesn’t want Jordan Henderson anywhere near the starting 11.
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Henderson has been a mainstay in Gareth Southgate‘s England squad since the manager took over the role in 2016.
And the 33-year-old was chosen despite making the controversial move to Saudi Arabia in the summer – leading to boos from the Wembley faithful when he came on the pitch.
And despite Henderson since leaving Al Etiifaq to join Ajax, Pennant has made it clear he doesn’t want him to start for England against Belgium.
Speaking on TalkSPORT, he said: “If I see Henderson, something is going through the TV.”
Pennant has instead suggested that Southgate turns to 18-year-old rising star Kobbie Mainoo to play alongside Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice in the middle of the park for England.
Mainoo received his first ever call up to the national side last week after impressing this season at Man Utd.
And the youngster made his debut as a substitute against Brazil on Saturday playing 15 minutes during the 1-0 defeat.
Pennant suggested that a test against Belgium in a friendly game would be the perfect situation for Southgate to see how Mainoo can cope with International football.
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He explained: “This is why this is the perfect scenario, it’s not a qualifier, it’s not in the Euros, it’s a friendly.
“So if he can handle this and play as he’s been playing for Man United, then you go, ‘Right, another little experience for him, perfect, just what you want from these young players.’
“Rather than putting Henderson there who is a veteran who we know what we’re going to get, he’s not going to be exciting, it just doesn’t make any sense.”
Pennant himself never actually won an international cap for England at a senior level despite representing the nation from U16s level to U21s.
In fact the 41-year-old is the ONLY English man that has ever played in a Champions league final and never gone on to play for the national team.
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