Jordan Henderson Hail England Hat-trick Hero Harry Kane

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson hailed Tottenham striker Harry Kane after his hat-trick in England's World Cup qualifying win against Albania.

Henderson also scored in the 5-0 win.

Asked if Kane gets enough appreciation, the Liverpool captain said: “I think he's appreciated. He certainly is from the players and that's the most important thing really.

“From the outside, I think the majority of England love him for what he's given over the past few years for the team. The goals he scores, the records he's got – I do think the fans love him.

“But you're going to get criticism at times, when you're club form is not as great, probably at Spurs, as what he would want. He hasn't been scoring as many goals as he'd want. So you're going to get criticism but he'll take it on the chin and make himself better.

"You saw tonight, he'll get chances and put them away and he's proven again tonight he's still one of the best strikers in the world."

Henderson admitted he was both surprised and not surprised by scrutiny of Kane's form this season, saying criticism was part and parcel of the elite game.

“It surprises me because the quality of him but it doesn't surprise us because I play football," Henderson said.

“Everyone will have an opinion. You always go through moments when the form isn't as good as you like, where you may not be scoring as many goals as you like, as is the case for him. You'll always get criticism in football, it's part and parcel of the job.

“I've had it my whole career and I'll have it until the day I finish. You learn how to deal with it in a better way when you get older and more experienced. That's what I've found. You use it to fuel you and make yourself better. 

So it doesn't surprise us because everyone is going to get criticism in football but of course it doesn't surprise us a little bit because of the quality of Harry Kane. Everyone knows he's one of the best strikers in the world."

Source: Tribalfootball