Henderson defends Ben White following Wembley jeers

Jordan Henderson, England's midfielder, has pledged to support his teammate Ben White, who was booed by England fans during the friendly match against Uruguay on Friday.

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White, the 28-year-old Arsenal defender, was jeered by the crowd when he came on as a substitute in the second half of the 1-1 draw at Wembley, and the boos continued even after he scored his side's late opener.

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The match marked White's first England appearance since he left the 2022 World Cup squad due to "personal reasons" and made himself unavailable for selection for the rest of Gareth Southgate's tenure as manager.

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Despite being given a "second chance" by current England manager Thomas Tuchel, White was met with a negative reaction from the fans when he replaced Fikayo Tomori on Friday.

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Henderson, who has also experienced the wrath of the Wembley crowd after being booed following his move to Saudi Arabia, understands the difficulties White is facing.

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As a teammate, Henderson emphasized the importance of supporting White, stating that many fans will be in support of all the players, and that being an England player comes with its share of criticism.

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Henderson noted that some fans may not even know why they are booing, as they often listen to and believe what is reported in the media, which may not always be true.

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The midfielder added that not many people are aware of the details surrounding White's self-imposed exile from the squad, and that it is an internal matter for the team to handle.

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Henderson, who captained England against Uruguay in the absence of Harry Kane, said that White has been welcomed back into the squad after explaining his situation to the team, as instructed by Tuchel.

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With England set to host Japan in another friendly on Tuesday, Henderson agreed that it is up to the squad to help White cope with the abuse he faced at Wembley.

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Henderson expressed his support for White, saying that the defender has been good since his return to the squad, and that the team will be there to support him as teammates.

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The former Liverpool star acknowledged that it can be difficult to deal with negative reactions from the crowd, but emphasized the importance of not taking it personally and being aware that the media can sometimes spin information in a way that is not entirely accurate.

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Henderson was pleased to see White score a goal in the match, which he believes is the most important thing, and he is confident that White is doing well despite the challenging situation.