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Roy Keane on Jordan Henderson inclusion | '...does he do card tricks?'

Roy Keane has said that it would be a mistake for England manager Gareth Southgate to take Liverp...



Roy Keane on Jordan Henderson...
Soccer

Roy Keane on Jordan Henderson inclusion | '...does he do card tricks?'

Roy Keane has said that it would be a mistake for England manager Gareth Southgate to take Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson to the European Championships this summer.

Keane was speaking to ITV Sport during England's warm-up match with Romania ahead of the squad taking part in the Euros.

Distraction

"It is already a distraction for Jordan, I was convinced that he was going to play the other day [against Austria] and certainly start the game.

"Why not start him in the first 45 minutes? There is obviously more intensity, in the second half there will no doubt be plenty of changes. Clearly, Jordan is not fit, I don't think he should be involved.

"He can't be fit because he can't start a game against Romania. Physically and mentally, today's game cannot be that tough for him to deal with, he is an experienced player.

"To have not kicked a ball for three and a half months and then go into a European Championships - he can't be right."

Keane said that Southgate needs to make a tough decision on the midfielder's involvement this summer.

"I have heard of people say that they want him around the place. For what? Does he do card tricks? Does he have a sing-song? Does he do quizzes in the evenings? What does he do?

"If you were Liverpool then you wouldn't be happy either."

Roy Keane on Jordan Henderson

Keane says that Henderson himself wouldn't want to be brought for moral support.

"Jordan is an experienced player. Surely, Jordan doesn't want to be around the place as some sort of cheerleader. You want to play.

"He is clearly nowhere near it because what you need after being out for three and a half months is three, four, five games.

"If he gets through the next 45 minutes, does that mean he is ready to play? He is clearly not fit enough."

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