Henderson, Kelly - Smart Choices for Euro 2012

So, the honeymoon is over.

After only a few weeks as England manager, Roy Hodgson’s tenure in the media as the saviour of English football has come to an end. And why? Because he has dared to select two exciting, young English players for Euro 2012. Injuries to Frank Lampard and Gary Cahill prompted Hodgson to call up Liverpool starlets Jordan Henderson and Martin Kelly from their vacations and onto the plane to Ukraine. He has been criticized ever since.

Henderson is 21, Kelly 22. Both have been touted as England prospects for some time, and both of them now have caps to their names. They both have an exciting streak to their playing style, and without much doubt, have a future of success ahead of them laden with England appearances. So why the hostility?

A lot of it is down to their club. The statistic that the Premier League’s eighth best side has provided six players (Steven Gerrard, Andy Carroll, Glen Johnson, Stewart Downing, Henderson and Kelly) to the England squad, more than any other team, has grated on journalists and supporters alike. How can a side that sacked their manager only two weeks ago possibly have that many English players of sufficient, international quality? The answer – they don’t. But they will.

This England set-up is one of transition, and Hodgson’s task is to mould a side reliant on the likes of Danny Welbeck, Jack Wilshere and Phil Jones rather than Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and John Terry. No one is pretending that Liverpool’s season was a good one, nor that each selected Liverpool player had a fantastic year either. But with the exception of Gerrard, they are all likely to play a big a part in England’s future. England will not win Euro 2012, but they might just lay the foundations for 2016.

Another reason for their inclusion is a sheer lack of options. With Lampard out, a drought of uninjured central midfielders meant that Henderson was the only real option. Media voices suggesting that Swansea’s Leon Britton deserved the call were luke-warm, as, although he enjoyed an impressive 2011-12, the former West Ham man is nearly 30 and therefore probably does not feature in Hodgson’s long-term vision. Those pointing towards Manchester United‘s Paul Scholes were reminded that he is retired from international football, and for a good reason – he’s 37.

Kelly’s inclusion was a lot more complex following the injury to Gary Cahill. Rio Ferdinand seemed, to a lot of people, to be the appropriate replacement for the central defender. However, tension between him and John Terry seem to have been deemed too difficult to overcome. ‘Footballing reasons’? Pull the other one! Manchester City’s Micah Richards was also widely sought after. But having flatly refused to be placed on the back-up list, he can hardly be surprised that his phone never rang. The same goes for Michael Carrick.

The inclusions are savvy ones. Tournament experience for two players likely to collect dozens of future England caps is vital, and whilst neither are expected to feature heavily at Euro 2012, experience they will get. Well done, Roy Hodgson.