Collins Praises Henderson’s Influence as Brentford Signs Sangare
Jordan Henderson may have only passed through Brentford for a brief spell, but his influence still hangs in the dressing room.
Nathan Collins has seen enough leaders to know a real one when he shares a pitch with him, and he made no attempt to play down the void Henderson leaves behind.
“The main thing is him as a person,” Collins told Sky Sports, reflecting on the former team-mate who helped steer Brentford through last season. It was a short stay, but inside the camp it clearly mattered. Henderson, Collins said, “showed his true colours by the end of the season – who he is and what he’s about.”
This wasn’t just about a big name dropping into a smaller club. Henderson connected. He mixed with everyone, carried what Collins called “a really good attitude” and actively sought out conversations around the training ground. On the grass, his demands set the tone. Standards rose because he pushed them.
“He drove them, and he had a high set of standards. He really drove training a lot,” Collins explained. Those sessions, that edge, left a mark. Which is why his exit stings.
“It’s tough that he’s gone,” Collins admitted, before quickly pointing out that the squad is not short of characters ready to step up. The expectation inside Brentford is that the culture Henderson helped sharpen will not disappear with him. “What he’s left from last season, I think that will continue.”
Brentford haven’t simply hoped it will. They have paid for it.
To fill the gap in experience and presence at the heart of midfield, the club moved decisively, sealing a £41m club-record deal for Mamadou Sangare from Lens. At 23, he arrives with a growing reputation rather than a fading one, fresh from helping Lens lift the Coupe de France and topping Ligue 1 for possession recoveries last season.
That detail matters. Brentford are not just buying a name; they are buying a ball-winner who lives in the thick of the game, someone who can anchor their press and protect the back line.
Collins already likes what he sees.
“He brings a lot of energy,” the defender said. “He brings a lot of tackles and forward-thinking passes. He’s just a really good footballer and a smart footballer.” For a centre-back, that combination in front of you is gold. Win it, use it, move it on.
Sangare has also removed one of the usual early barriers. “He speaks really good English so he’s settled in really nicely,” Collins added. That matters in the chaos of a Premier League game, when one shouted word can stop a counter-attack or launch one.
“To have him in front of you, it’ll be a big help for all players,” Collins said.
Henderson has gone. His standards, and the price Brentford have paid to maintain them, are very much still in the building.
