'UNTRUE' BELLINGHAM SCRUTINY IS 'HARD TO READ' SAYS HENDERSON

JORDAN HENDERSON insists much of what is written about Jude Bellingham is "untrue" as he backed his England team-mate to deliver at the World Cup.

- BY JOHN CROSS

Bellingham and fellow midfielder Henderson are close friends on and off the pitch with a lot of mutual respect.

Henderson, who turns 36 when England play Croatia in their Group L opener in Texas tomorrow, admits he finds it "hard to read" the constant media scrutiny aimed at the Real Madrid superstar (below).

Bellingham has often found himself under the microscope for his on-pitch demeanour, and in January he publicly rubbished rumours that his opposition to Xabi Alonso's methods played a part in the manager's Bernabeu exit.

And Brentford's Henderson insists the public perception of the 22-year-old is wide of the mark.

He said: "I'm sure he will have a big impact for us in this tournament. How much he has grown, as a player and as a person, is incredible.

"I had a good idea when I first saw him playing and in training, and the way he was. But what he's done so far - everybody forgets how young he is.