Post by JimboTheRam on Sept 2, 2007 18:25:30 GMT -1
Steve McClaren has has resurrected the international career of Wigan striker Emile Heskey by recalling him for the European Championship qualification double-header with Israel and Russia.
Heskey could have been forgiven for thinking his international days were behind him, so long has it been since he has pulled on the Three Lions jersey.
But the current injury crisis facing England boss McClaren gives the 29-year-old every chance to add to his 43 caps, the last of which was earned against France at Euro 2004.
This year has already seen McClaren recall the discarded David Beckham, while Portsmouth duo David James and Sol Campbell were among the 26-man squad originally named for the crucial encounters to come over the next 10 days.
Campbell, 33, is the latest of a growing list of players to be ruled out of contention, the defender suffering from a hamstring injury that saw him miss Pompey's 3-1 defeat at Arsenal today.
With his first-choice centre-back pairing currently available, it remains to be seen whether McClaren will call upon a replacement.
The same could not be said about the England forward line, with Wayne Rooney crocked, Peter Crouch serving a one-match ban and Michael Owen feeling his way back to match fitness.
McClaren watched Heskey in action for his club in their defeat at Newcastle yesterday and was impressed enough to make contact with the Latics this morning and request his release.
With his squad woefully short of goalscoring options, McClaren at least knows Heskey has scored five times at international level, something none of his striking rivals, with the exception of Owen, can claim.
The former Liverpool player has also scored in the league this season, something only Owen has managed out of McClaren's five-strong strike-force.
Heskey was called into Sven-Goran Eriksson's squad for games against Northern Ireland and Azerbaijan in March 2005 but did not play.
There must be more of a chance of that happening this time.
"Emile is a player with a lot of international experience and has played many times with Michael Owen in the past," McClaren told the Football Association's official website www.thefa.com.
"He has been in good form for Wigan this season. He played very well against Sunderland recently and I saw him play well against Newcastle yesterday.
"While he has been out of the squad for a few years, I have spoken with Chris Hutchings who has been hugely impressed with him and I think he deserves to be recalled. We need his experience at this time."
Hutchings hailed Heskey as "colossal" and believes his recall is fully merited.
"This is not just tremendous personal news for Emile, but it's also fantastic for Wigan as a whole," said Hutchings.
"He is a brilliant professional, one of the best I've worked with.
"He is colossal and I have no doubt he will serve England well if Steve McClaren picks him for either of the games.
"I think it's a thoroughly deserved call-up because he has been playing out of his skin. His team-mates will be as chuffed as I am."
Campbell, meanwhile, is likely to be out for a fortnight, scuppering his hopes of adding to his 69 England caps for the time being.
Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp said after today's game at Arsenal: "Sol's not fit to play for England.
"We need to get him back and fit to play for Portsmouth in the next two weeks. That's the key.
"We spoke to the doctors and they know he's not fit. I think he will report and then come back to us."
Redknapp continued: "We've got to treat Sol and try and get him fit for (the game against) Liverpool. He is a very important player for us.
"He had a groin problem and now he's gone to his hamstring. He definitely won't be fit to play for England. It is a shame, for sure."
Campbell joins Beckham, Rooney, Frank Lampard, Gary Neville, Ledley King, Wayne Bridge and Jonathan Woodgate on England's casualty list, while Steven Gerrard and Owen Hargreaves are rated doubtful for the upcoming double-header
OH.......................MY...................GOD, we're dooooooooooooomed
Heskey could have been forgiven for thinking his international days were behind him, so long has it been since he has pulled on the Three Lions jersey.
But the current injury crisis facing England boss McClaren gives the 29-year-old every chance to add to his 43 caps, the last of which was earned against France at Euro 2004.
This year has already seen McClaren recall the discarded David Beckham, while Portsmouth duo David James and Sol Campbell were among the 26-man squad originally named for the crucial encounters to come over the next 10 days.
Campbell, 33, is the latest of a growing list of players to be ruled out of contention, the defender suffering from a hamstring injury that saw him miss Pompey's 3-1 defeat at Arsenal today.
With his first-choice centre-back pairing currently available, it remains to be seen whether McClaren will call upon a replacement.
The same could not be said about the England forward line, with Wayne Rooney crocked, Peter Crouch serving a one-match ban and Michael Owen feeling his way back to match fitness.
McClaren watched Heskey in action for his club in their defeat at Newcastle yesterday and was impressed enough to make contact with the Latics this morning and request his release.
With his squad woefully short of goalscoring options, McClaren at least knows Heskey has scored five times at international level, something none of his striking rivals, with the exception of Owen, can claim.
The former Liverpool player has also scored in the league this season, something only Owen has managed out of McClaren's five-strong strike-force.
Heskey was called into Sven-Goran Eriksson's squad for games against Northern Ireland and Azerbaijan in March 2005 but did not play.
There must be more of a chance of that happening this time.
"Emile is a player with a lot of international experience and has played many times with Michael Owen in the past," McClaren told the Football Association's official website www.thefa.com.
"He has been in good form for Wigan this season. He played very well against Sunderland recently and I saw him play well against Newcastle yesterday.
"While he has been out of the squad for a few years, I have spoken with Chris Hutchings who has been hugely impressed with him and I think he deserves to be recalled. We need his experience at this time."
Hutchings hailed Heskey as "colossal" and believes his recall is fully merited.
"This is not just tremendous personal news for Emile, but it's also fantastic for Wigan as a whole," said Hutchings.
"He is a brilliant professional, one of the best I've worked with.
"He is colossal and I have no doubt he will serve England well if Steve McClaren picks him for either of the games.
"I think it's a thoroughly deserved call-up because he has been playing out of his skin. His team-mates will be as chuffed as I am."
Campbell, meanwhile, is likely to be out for a fortnight, scuppering his hopes of adding to his 69 England caps for the time being.
Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp said after today's game at Arsenal: "Sol's not fit to play for England.
"We need to get him back and fit to play for Portsmouth in the next two weeks. That's the key.
"We spoke to the doctors and they know he's not fit. I think he will report and then come back to us."
Redknapp continued: "We've got to treat Sol and try and get him fit for (the game against) Liverpool. He is a very important player for us.
"He had a groin problem and now he's gone to his hamstring. He definitely won't be fit to play for England. It is a shame, for sure."
Campbell joins Beckham, Rooney, Frank Lampard, Gary Neville, Ledley King, Wayne Bridge and Jonathan Woodgate on England's casualty list, while Steven Gerrard and Owen Hargreaves are rated doubtful for the upcoming double-header
OH.......................MY...................GOD, we're dooooooooooooomed
