Jordan Henderson told he would lose England captaincy four days before Champions League final

Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson has revealed he was told he would lose the England captains armband to Harry Kane just four days before last seasons Champions League final.

Three Lions manager Gareth Southgate had to choose between the Reds skipper and Tottenham striker Kane, the only two realistic candidates for the role, but could perhaps have picked a better moment to break the news to a player who was deep in preparation for the biggest match of his career.

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Henderson, however, says he was not affected by the timing of the news and if anything, he was pleased for Kane to be given the privilege.

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The manager rang me on the Tuesday in the week leading up to the final,” Henderson told The Mirror.

I wasnt thinking about it because of the final – that is where my focus was.

When the gaffer told me I was just really pleased for Harry.

Since the announcement, Kane has not been afraid to talk up Englands chances of going all the way in Russia.

Henderson reiterated the same sentiment, insisting he would have said something similarly positive if he were the un-official spokesperson for the players.

He continued: In the tournaments Ive been to, we havent achieved anything really, to be honest.

The first Euros I played in, we beat Sweden, got Italy and got knocked out on penalties but, apart from that, we didnt get out of the group in the 2014 World Cup and got beat by Iceland at the last Euros.

So other people will ask what is a success in the World Cup but as a player and as a group of players, why would you want to put a limit on what is success or not?

Youve got to go in with the mentality that we can go all the way because we are good enough as a team.

A large part of that belief according to Henderson, comes from the fact England possess in Kane, what he describes as, the best finisher he has ever seen.

He added: Harry has probably got the best finishing from a player I have ever seen – left foot, right foot, hes special. He is the best Ive ever played with in terms of finishing.

England have one remaining warm-up fixture against Costa Rica at Elland Road on Thursday before they fly out to their base in the Russian village of Repino.

The Three Lions kick off their tournament campaign on Monday June 18 against Tunisia in Volgograd.

MORE: England has a pathetic 3.8% chance of winning the World Cup, scientists claim

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