Can Spain debutant Herrera win midfield battle with Henderson?

For a player of Ander Herrera’s ability, it’s remarkable he is still yet to gain senior international recognition. Spain, of course, have an abundance of top-class midfielders to select from, with the national pool arguably the best in the world in that position. Yet, the Manchester United man has never really been handed a fair crack of the whip. Herrera may have been included in the squads to face Italy, Albania and Macedonia, but was an unused substitute in the three fixtures.

That, though, is set to change at Wembley on Tuesday night, with Herrera in line to make his first start for Spain against England in the final round of international fixtures this year. Head coach Julen Lopetegui has overseen a five-match unbeaten run following his appointment earlier this year and will be keen to end 2016 on a high on the back of Spain’s underwhelming defence of their European Championship crown. 

If Lopetegui does opt to start Herrera as has been reported, it will be a warranted show of faith in the 27-year-old, whose most recent foray into international football came in a 0-0 draw with Morocco at the 2012 Olympics. That being said, though, Herrera’s experience of the Premier League could prove vital for La Roja in their quest to secure victory at Wembley. The midfielder has earned a commendable WhoScored rating of 7.19 in England's top-flight this season and it’s his experience of the league that could prove beneficial for Spain on Tuesday night. 

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Herrera is evidently familiar with his possible opponents having started six top-flight games this term after establishing himself as a key man for United under Jose Mourinho. Indeed, his stand out performance came in the 0-0 draw at Liverpool, where Herrera gained a superb rating of 9.70, enough to win the WhoScored man of the match award. In the fixture he made 17 tackles and interceptions combined, the best return in the Premier League this season, and a figure bettered only by Darmstadt’s Florian Jungwirth (22 vs Bayer Leverkusen) in Europe’s top five leagues. 

Moreover, that the fine showing came against familiar opposition, with Gareth Southgate on Monday confirming that Jordan Henderson will captain England against Spain in Wayne Rooney’s absence. Henderson’s rating in the aforementioned 0-0 draw was a respectable 7.23, though his distribution and ball winning ability are both vital with the 26-year-old having played more passes (800) in England’s top tier this term, while no player has made more tackles (47) than the Reds skipper. 

Both traits are crucial for any midfielder, but against Spain, Henderson’s tenacity in the middle of the park is essential. The three-time European champions are renowned for their possession-based approach and ability to pass opponents to death, which means when England do have the ball, Henderson’s influence in the middle of the park is a vital asset for Southgate and the Three Lions. Conversely, Herrera’s defensive contribution will also go a long way to helping Spain to victory. 

It’s arguable that the United man lacks the technical qualities of compatriots Sergio Busquets, Koke and Thiago Alcantara, to name three, but maximises his limitless energy to ensure his defence is rarely troubled. With Lopetegui expected to field a makeshift backline due to injuries to key duo Gerard Pique and Sergio Ramos in recent weeks, Herrera certainly has a pivotal role to play to keep the England attack at bay. 

Mourinho’s deployment in a deeper lying defensive role in his favoured 4-2-3-1 formation has helped Herrera in his quest to earn international recognition, but it was never going to be easy for the Spaniard, who this week admitted: “you’re aware that Spain has the best midfield in the world by a long way.” Tuesday is as good a chance as any to ensure he remains in Lopetegui’s thoughts beyond the current international break. 

If he can transfer his club form to country, then he offers a different midfield option for the Spain boss, which is essential as the game continues to develop. Conversely, though, his Premier League-based opponents are familiar with Herrera’s style of play, which could in turn limit the United man’s influence on his international bow. If England are to ensure Herrera endures a debut to forget, stand-in captain Henderson will be the man tasked with minimising the former’s impact at Wembley.