Best still to come from England young guns

England are ready to fulfil the growing expectations around their vibrant young team as the Euro 2020 qualifying campaign starts with the Czech Republic’s visit to Wembley on Friday, Jordan Henderson says.

Gareth Southgate’s squad are back together for the first time in 2019, with the Czechs their first test before a trip to Montenegro for the second qualifier on Monday.

For the first time in years, there is a sense England can emerge as one of the main contenders for international football’s top prizes.

After reaching the World Cup semifinals for the first time since 1990, England rounded off a memorable 2018 by defeating Spain and Croatia to reach 2019’s inaugural Nations League finals.

While that stands as impres- sive progress for England after decades of underachievement, Liverpool midfielder Henderson is confident the best is still to come for Southgate’s men.

With promising teenagers Jadon Sancho and Callum Hudson-Odoi and 20-year-old Declan Rice joining an England squad already bolstered by the rise of Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford and Dele Alli, among others, Henderson is enjoying the fresh feel of a group that plays without fear.

Sancho is unlocking his potential with Borussia Dortmund after leaving Manchester City, while Hudson-Odoi is a hot property despite still awaiting his first Premier League start with Chelsea.

Two more youngsters, Chelsea’s Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Liverpool’s Trent Alexan- der-Arnold. were also in the original squad but have dropped out injured.

Another of Henderson’s Liverpool teammates, Joe Gomez, has won six England caps, but is recovering from a broken leg.

“It is good, those younger players have so much talent.

“It’s good for England because I can see in a few years we are going to have big, big players,” he said.