Jordan Henderson wants Gareth Southgate in England job 'for a long time'

Image: Jordan Henderson captained England in Slovenia

Jordan Henderson has urged his England team-mates to help Gareth Southgate's job chances by producing on the pitch.

Southgate is halfway through an initial four-game spell in charge after Saturday's 2-0 win over Malta and a goalless draw in Slovenia.

It took several Joe Hart saves to preserve a point in Ljubljana, and England's interim manager afterwards claimed he had "taken over a mess" in the wake of Sam Allardyce's abrupt exit.

Southgate plans to assess his long-term ambitions after games against Scotland and Spain next month, but he has received an early vote of confidence from his stand-in skipper in Slovenia.

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Henderson said: "The players have got on really well with him. We're close as a group and we've had meetings about what we want to do as a team.

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"The manager has been brilliant with us so we need to put in the performances, not just for ourselves, but the fans and him and the coaching staff as well to make sure we keep working together for a long time.

"He's spoken to the players as a group and individually as well and I think that has helped. We've worked well together as a group.

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Image: Gareth Southgate is halfway through an initial four-game spell as England boss

"He gives responsibility to players and he listens. It's been a good week. It would have been better with two wins, but we've got to take the positives: beating Malta and getting a good point from this game."

Henderson also praised Wayne Rooney's reaction to being dropped, a decision which handed the Liverpool midfielder the armband.

"I think Wayne handled the whole thing brilliantly," he said. "Even at half-time he was trying to help the lads, telling us how he thought we could improve in the second half.

Highlights from England's Group F World Cup qualifier against Slovenia

"He wished us all the best, but he's the one we all follow. He's the captain and one we all look up to. He's a world-class player and experienced player and he's shown his class this week.

"I get on well with Wayne and he just said 'keep on doing what you have been doing' because that's why you've been given the role'."

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