Around eight minutes into this game, Kyle Walker got the ball in the centre of the England defence and looked up. Harry Kane was dropping deep, out of the forward line, ready to receive. Jadon Sancho was wandering up the right wing with that marvellous, languid gait of his, the sort where you can never quite tell whether he’s about to execute a triple elastico chop or strolling to the kitchen to make himself a sandwich. To the left, Michael Keane and Harry Maguire were the less exciting options. But hang on. Who was that blur of white streaking up the centre of the pitch, making the run in behind?

It’s like Andy Warhol almost put it: in the future, everyone will be England’s No 8 for 15 minutes. And on a night where England’s superheroes took centre stage, it was one of their more humble performers who provided perhaps the game’s most interesting subplot. Was it a bird? Was it a plane? Was it one of those niche midfield positions with a Spanish name that you can never quite remember? In a way, it was a little of each. For a few fleeting moments at Wembley Stadium, Jordan Henderson was set free.

Well. He played a bit higher than usual. For a bit. And yet this in itself was an arresting enough sight. For some years now, Henderson’s role for England has been more nightwatchman than burglar: often the deepest midfielder at the base of the triangle, shuffling play along, plugging the gaps, deterring the break.

Remember that Monty Python sketch, Bicycle Repair Man? In a team full of superheroes in capes, Henderson offers something different: a tightening of bolts, a greasing of spokes, a pumping of tyres. Whenever your midfield is being broken, or menaced by international playmakers, Henderson is ready.

Here, however, something was different, and it didn’t become apparent until we saw Henderson hurtling like Gerd Muller into the centre-forward position. Walker didn’t see the pass, by the way. Perhaps because the last thing you expect to see these days is Henderson on the shoulder of the last man, trying to spring the offside trap.

Player ratings: England vs Czech Republic Show all 14 1 /14 Player ratings: England vs Czech Republic Player ratings: England vs Czech Republic Jordan Pickford - 6 A virtual spectator tonight, and he will have a solid England defence and a poor Czech attack to thank for that. Looked shaky though during a couple of the Czech half-chances. Action Images via Reuters Player ratings: England vs Czech Republic Kyle Walker - 5 Got forward well as demonstrated by Sterling's second, but was sloppy a couple of times when in his own half, with one error nearly leading to a Schick goal. AP Player ratings: England vs Czech Republic Michael Keane - 6 Solid performance overall from the Everton man, putting some rather inconsistent displays with his club behind him, despite the nervy moments at the start of the second. AP Player ratings: England vs Czech Republic Harry Maguire - 6 Looked unconcerned throughout despite Vydra's pre-match comments, was the most assured of all the defenders. AP Player ratings: England vs Czech Republic Ben Chilwell - 6 Did well in the first half to get forward and offer Sterling an option, and was largely adept at the back limiting the number of Czech chances. Action Images via Reuters Player ratings: England vs Czech Republic Jordan Henderson - 6 Shielded the back four relatively well and was also one the receiving end of some mistimed tackles, but helped England maintain the balance in midfield. Getty Player ratings: England vs Czech Republic Eric Dier - 5 Was in the wars early on both giving and receiving hefty challenges, and the one from Soucek saw him go off in the 17th minute for Barkley. Getty Images Player ratings: England vs Czech Republic Dele Alli - 6 ot one of his finest nights, but was involved in some nice play around the box in the first half. Southgate was obviously wary of managing his fitness. AFP/Getty Images Player ratings: England vs Czech Republic Jadon Sancho - 8 Showed us why Dortmund fans have been so eager to see him each game this season. He added a lovely assist for Sterling's first and there were plenty of displays of silky skills too. AFP/Getty Images Player ratings: England vs Czech Republic Harry Kane - 7 A great defence-splitting pass to put in Sancho for the opening goal, before powering home a penalty right on half-time. Wasn't as influential in the second half but did the damage when it counted. PA Player ratings: England vs Czech Republic Raheem Sterling - 9 His composure in front of goal is now clear for all to see, the second in particular a beautifully taken effort on the turn. He was a nuisance all night and he deserved his hat-trick, taking his tally to 24 in all competitions this season. REUTERS Player ratings: England vs Czech Republic Ross Barkley - 6 Willing runner behind the defence and picked up some good positions in the box after coming on for Dier. Gave the likes of Dele Alli a great option Getty Images Player ratings: England vs Czech Republic Declan Rice - 5 One man who looked like the occasion got to him after coming on with some hesitant touches, but is certainly one for the future. Getty Player ratings: England vs Czech Republic Callum Hudson-Odoi - 6 Yet to make a Premier League start, but Hudson-Odoi carried on the good work down the left-hand side and was unlucky he did not end up with a goal, despite his heavy involvement in Kalas' own goal. Getty

“I’m playing more of a deeper role, a more disciplined role,” Henderson admitted back in November. “Now and again you may be picking a pass or two in behind, making something happen, but when we’re attacking – especially at Liverpool – I’m focusing on protection, being disciplined, being careful, worrying about counter-attacks, things like that. So it’s hard to do both.”

Now, with Eric Dier locking the gate behind him, Henderson could kick off his shoes and scamper. There was another stirring, unrewarded run into the right channel as Kane dropped deep with the ball and looked up for the pass. A couple of hopeful Lampard-ish forays into the 18-yard box. And then, almost as quickly as it was upon us, the Henderson-as-CAM era was over. Dier was injured. Henderson was required to stand guard once more.

And there he remained for the remaining 72 minutes of the game: not the marauding Henderson but the applauding Henderson. There he was, exhorting England’s defenders to wake up after Tomas Soucek got a free header in the England area. There he was, knocking the ball away after a promising Czech advance. There he was, the first man on the scene, mopping up the mess after Ross Barkley had done a whoopsie near the right touchline.

Henderson was England’s unsung hero on a night of superlatives (Getty)

And there he was, one of the last men on the scene as England celebrated their opening goal. While everyone was lauding Raheem Sterling for his two-yard tap-in, Sancho for his slightly misjudged cross and Kane for his defence-splitting pass, Henderson was the one who had started the move a few passes earlier. Nobody remembered that. Nobody really seems to remember very much of anything Henderson does these days.

Which is a curious phenomenon, when you consider that this is a player who has played in a Champions League final, a World Cup semi-final, is chasing a Premier League title this season, England’s most capped active player, with a 50th appearance likely against Montenegro on Monday. It’s a decent enough CV, and yet outside the red half of Merseyside, Henderson still seems the sort of player more likely to elicit a sad sigh.

His only crime, really, has been longevity. Euro 2020, should he make it, will be his fifth tournament before the age of 30. English football has always lusted after the next, shiny new toy. Declan Rice is the latest. Phil Foden may be the next. James Maddison, Harry Winks and James Ward-Prowse are all getting talked about as future England midfield generals. At the root of this, I think, lies some deep, unshakeable idea that somehow, England can do better than Henderson.

Raheem Sterling shone with a hat-trick as England cruised to a 5-0 victory against Czech Republic (Getty)

Well, can they? It rather depends what you want from your central midfielder. If it’s stepovers and crunching tackles, silvery bursts of pace and Instagrammable diagonal passes, then no, perhaps Henderson isn’t your man. If it’s an experienced midfielder who hardly ever gives the ball away in the most crowded area of the pitch, then let’s talk numbers.

So far this season – one mildly afflicted by injuries, remember – Henderson has played more passes per 90 minutes than any Premier League midfielder other than Jorginho, whose average pass length tends to be shorter. He has given the ball away less often than anybody else in his position. In the Champions League, meanwhile – the real quiz – he’s given the ball away once in six games, less often than any other midfielder in the competition. And here again, he was England’s most influential, most invisible midfielder: more than 100 touches, 95 passes, another cap in the bag, another win for which he will get virtually none of the credit.