Jordan Henderson dedicated his first-ever Brentford goal to his former team-mate Diogo Jota in Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Leeds United, and the England midfielder has added a touch of class to the Bees’ midfield this season.

Henderson coolly slotted home from 10 yards out to give the Bees the lead midway through the second half after Rico Henry’s cross fell his way.

The former Liverpool captain subsequently recreated Jota’s trademark celebration - sitting down and pretending to play a computer game - to pay tribute to his “good friend,” who passed away in July.

The hosts were forced to settle for a point in the end, however, as Dominic Calvert-Lewin expertly headed home Wilfried Gnonto’s cross on 82 minutes to earn the resurgent Whites a share of the spoils.

After the game, Brentford head coach Keith Andrews highlighted Henderson’s considerable impact since joining from Ajax in the summer, describing the 35-year-old’s knowledge of the game as “second to none.”

He doesn’t score many - as Henderson himself noted afterwards - but with four goal involvements this term (one goal and three assists), Brentford’s no.6 has already made a clear impact in the attacking third.

Only 11-goal Igor Thiago - the Premier League Player of the Month in November - has been more productive for the Bees in terms of end product.

Henderson’s performance against Leeds brimmed with intent, and his numbers reflected a well-honed sense of when to play safe and when to inject risk into his passing.

No player completed more than his two key passes, and he also delivered a team-high five crosses. He pinged four accurate long balls as well - the most of any outfielder.

After coming off the bench on the opening day at Nottingham Forest, Henderson has started all but one of Brentford’s subsequent Premier League fixtures - the 2-0 loss against Arsenal at Emirates Stadium being the other top-flight match in that he was utilised as a substitute.

A driving force at both ends of the pitch, Henderson retains the ability to dictate tempo at the highest level, and only skipper Nathan Collins (47.1) averages more passes per 90 minutes for Brentford this term.

Just nine Premier League players have supplied more assists than Henderson (three) in 2025/26.

Manchester United centre-back Harry Maguire may still have flashbacks to Henderson’s glorious ball for Thiago’s opener in the Bees’ 3-1 win over United in September, and the midfielder’s ability to turn defence into attack has helped establish the west Londoners as one of the best counter-attacking sides in the division.

Mikkel Damsgaard remains the main man for the Bees when it comes to swinging in tantalising crosses this term, but Henderson is not far behind the Dane. It was the former Sunderland academy graduate’s teasing delivery that led to Thiago’s vital strike against Burnley recently - a goal that showcased Henderson’s quality and decision-making at crucial moments.

While his statistics plainly do some talking, Henderson is a footballer who provides personality - and his goal, and celebration, at the weekend encapsulated that.