Jordan Henderson

Steve Bruce, his manager at Sunderland

The first time I saw Jordan in pre-season at Sunderland I liked him. He is a smashing character but he also has this unquenchable thirst to win.

Everything he did in training, whether it was a race or a kick-about, he wanted to win. He was this young kid, encouraging others, carrying them with him. I gave him his debut at Sunderland and he never came out of the team after that.

He is one of those players that every manager wants, because when you decide on your team, you go to bed the night before the match and you know what you are going to get from him the following day.

He just loves playing football and he has carried the same enthusiasm he had when he was eight into his professional career. I was the same and maybe that is why we got on so well. He always had great athleticism, he does not have a trick on the ball, he has not got great pace, but he makes the most of what he has got.

If there is a weakness in his game that you want him to work on, he thinks about it, works out what he needs to do and does everything he can to improve. He has captained Sunderland, Liverpool and England. That tells you everything you need to

know.