Player Focus: Henderson Now Crucial to Both Club & Country

This time last season Jordan Henderson was named in Roy Hodgson's England squad with some of the fans not exactly convinced by the midfielder's worth, along with Tom Cleverley, and it seemed the two would fight it out over the course of the year for a place in the World Cup squad. It turned out to be a pretty one-sided bout, and the players' performances and development could not have been more different in that time.

While Cleverley's subdued and sub-par displays drew criticism, Henderson was one of the best midfielders in the Premier League last season, beginning the current campaign in a similar vein. The former has since joined Aston Villa on an initial loan deal, where he hopes to rebuild his confidence, having seemingly played within himself for some time now, and regain a place in Roy Hodgson's plans. Jordan Henderson is quite literally at the centre of those plans right now.

The international retirement of clubmate Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard has left a hole in England's midfield and allowed for first international call-ups for the likes of Fabian Delph and Jack Colback in Hodgson's latest squad. The one constant through the qualifying campaign in that position looks certain to be the Liverpool man.

With England's captaincy going to Wayne Rooney following Gerrard's decision to step down, it's fair to say that when the veteran does call it a day on his club career, Henderson is perhaps first in line to take the armband at Anfield, highlighting the rise of the 24-year-old. Of all outfielders at Liverpool last season, only Martin Skrtel had more playing time, with Henderson (3128 minutes) gaining a key role in Rodgers' system.

His work rate in the middle of the park is invaluable, adding real strength to enable him to drive forward with and without the ball and prove a real menace in the attacking phase; something he perhaps lacked in his early matches at Liverpool. It's his ability to have an impact on the offensive that has really caught the eye, able to pick out precise forward passes and through balls where the aforementioned Cleverley has struggled. There's a confidence about the former Sunderland man now that suggests he is ready to carry the burden of a key role at international level too.

When excluding long passes from one's own half into the opposition's, only 6 players made more accurate passes in the opposition half last season (884). Henderson ranked first of all Englishmen, with new teammate Adam Lallana closest behind (837). Meanwhile only 4 players made more key passes from open play (62), this time level with Lallana, with teammate Steven Gerrard way down the list, with 33.

If you'd suggested that Henderson would be one of England's most proactive passers of the ball 18 months ago you'd likely have been widely ridiculed. His creative output was not dissimilar to that of Lallana last season, who registered just 5 assists to Henderson's 7 despite the latter playing a far more defensively demanding role.

Henderson averaged 2.4 tackles per game in the previous campaign and has already produced 10 in the first three matches of the current season. His all action game has seen him become a crucial member of an impressive Liverpool side with many of the fans touting him to fill in for Gerrard's absence once he retires. He isn't the same type of player, lacking the goal threat of an early-Gerrard and the range of passing to realistically compare the two.

With two superb assists to his name already this season however, both for Raheem Sterling strikes - their understanding bodes well for England - it's not a stretch to suggest that Henderson will play a vital role in the Three Lions' upcoming Euro 2016 qualifying campaign.

How important will Henderson be to England's Euro 2016 qualifying campaign? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below