Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson has urged England manager Gareth Southgate to select Chelsea’s Mason Mount ahead of Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson for the game against Senegal.

Henderson put in an assured performance to help the Three Lions win their last group game against Wales but Merson feels Mount could improve the midfield’s movement and creativity:

“I wouldn’t go with Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice and Jordan Henderson as the midfield three [against Senegal], it’s too one-dimensional and you’re asking for Harry Kane to drop deeper and deeper. If you’re going to give one of the midfield three the freedom to roam forward, then Mason Mount should be starting there. I’d have Mount in midfield over Henderson because he moves the ball quickly, sees a pass and is on the half-turn. If you play Mount, I think it would keep Kane further up the pitch and would allow you to push Bellingham forward, leaving Rice in front of the back four, which is enough, you don’t need two defensive midfielders in front of the back four.”

Considering Mount started the 0-0 draw versus the USA, while Henderson played in a 3-0 victory over the Welsh, you’d have to say that Merson is way off base here.

With Rice playing as a solitary holding midfield player, England failed to get control of the match against the US, whilst they dominated possession versus Wales when he was part of a double pivot.

At club level, Rice is used to having someone alongside him who can help cover the ground, and Henderson is ideal for such a job. The fact that he can also be a leader on the pitch is an added bonus.