Jordan Henderson has admitted he is loving the challenge of playing for Chelsea as he sent a message to those who questioned the move. Henderson, 36, joined the Blues during the summer transfer window after leaving Brentford by mutual consent.

Signing a two-year deal, some cynics claimed the England international was only being brought in to enforce squad standards and help younger members of his side. However, after missing the start of the season due to injury, he has played the full 90 minutes in his side’s last three Premier League games, and he is loving life at Stamford Bridge.

“I'm enjoying the challenge,” he said. “I think a lot of people spoke about the move when I came, but for me I’ve just got to do my talking on the pitch, really.

“I still work hard every day in training trying to help the team wherever I can. And when I play, I do my best to put in the best performance I can for the team.

Make sure you never miss the latest Chelsea news and opinion by making Football London one of your Google preferred sources.

“I still feel good. I still feel like I can compete at the highest level, so that's what I try and do, and just try and concentrate everything on football, and not get caught up with anything else, really, just concentrate on what I need to do for the team, and put in good performances.

“I'm loving it at the minute, you know, it helps when you're playing with top players around you and I feel like the team's really coming together.

“In terms of the spirit and togetherness and I can feel the fight so I feel good. I feel as if this is a good place for me and I am just excited to see what the future holds for this team.”

And in a message to those who criticised the move, Henderson said: “Obviously, everyone around football talks whether that is the media or whatever. And, yeah, maybe that was the thought process, but I never felt that from Chelsea.

“From the minute that I spoke to them, and the manager, and the club, I still felt like they wanted me to help on the field. So that's all I try and do, and that's all the focus is on really, to be honest.

“In football there are going to be so many different opinions, so many people saying things and, for me, I just try and use it as fuel, use it as energy, to prove people wrong again. I just want to do my work and my business on the pitch. That's where I do be talking really.”

Saturday’s win over Everton was settled by two goals from wing-back Pedro Neto, who scored at both ends of the second half.

And Henderson said: “I think today we showed we have got another good side to us. Winning a lot of duels, second balls, especially away from home against Everton, it's going to be difficult.

"So, yeah, I felt as though that side of the game was good. Defensively were more solid, and then going forward, I thought we looked dangerous as well at times, maybe could have scored one or two more later on in the game. Overall, I think it was a really good day and a good performance, good result.”

The Blues also kept their first clean sheet of the season against David Moyes’ side, and the former Liverpool skipper added: “We all know clean sheets are important in football and there hasn't been enough of them for us.

“Today is a good day to get that and, overall, I felt defensively we were a lot more solid. We've just got to keep working and I felt like the players are getting used to each other a lot more, which helps.

“The more you play with each other, the more you know where people will be, and you get used to the relationship. That's important.

"Today will be a big day just in terms of getting over the line with the clean sheet and people can stop talking about it! Then we can just concentrate on what we need to do.”