Whelan Opens the Door to Heskey Return

Wigan Athletic chairman Dave Whelan has suggested that the Latics just might be interested in bringing former striker Emile Heskey back to the club a year on from his £3.5 million move 100 miles down the M6 to Aston Villa.

With just 15 goals in 82 games for the Latics during his two and a half seasons at the club he wasn`t exactly setting the goal scoring charts alight but he brought a lot more to both the team and the club during his stay in Lancashire.

Professional both on and off the pitch and always giving 100% for the team, his performance against Sheffield United in the final game of the 2006/07 season epitomised what he was all about.

Whilst at the Latics Heskey won an England recall, former boss Steve McClaren sending for the big man in the country`s hour of need as they were struggling to reach the 2008 European Championships and such was his impact in his first two games that soccer pundit Alan Shearer commented: 'Never in a million years did I expect to be discussing whether Emile Heskey should keep his place ahead of Wayne Rooney but the Wigan striker was outstanding over both games.'

Now due to being sat on Villa`s bench for most of this season Heskey finds his England place under threat as the World Cup edges ever closer and it is believed that national boss Fabio Capello has told him that he must get regular first team action if he is to keep his place in the squad for next summer`s tournament.

Heskey says publicly that he may have to move to get the regular playing time needed, but the big question is to where?

Liverpool have been muted, but why swap Villa`s bench for the one at Anfield, to guarantee some action Heskey will have to lower his sights to clubs in and around the mid-table area, clubs like ourselves, Bolton Blackburn, Hull, Portsmouth, Fulham etc.

He made a massive impression on Latics chairman Dave Whelan during his previous stay with us and Whelan, as always, hasn`t held back when talking to the press about Heskey and says he would welcome him back but doubts Villa would sell, maybe not at the price you`d offer Dave.

Speaking to Sky Sports Whelan say`s: 'We could well be interested. I have a great deal of sympathy for him - he is one wonderful footballer.

'When he is on the park you know you are going to get 110%. I absolutely thought he was fantastic for us but he was coming to the end of his contract and he wanted to move on so I honoured that.'

'Everybody in football would like Emile somewhere in their squad. He is that kind of lad.

'But I'd be very surprised if Aston Villa sell him and I still think he has got a good future at Villa.'


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