Emile Heskey
Nationality :
English
Date of Birth :
11/01/1978
Height :
6' 2" (188cm)
Weight :
13st 12lbs (88.07kg)
Squad Number :
18
Previous Clubs :
Wigan, Birmingham, Liverpool, Leicester
Position :
Striker
Emile Heskey again showed flashes of his undoubted brilliance during the 2010-11 campaign as the powerful forward gave his all for the Villa cause.
He was a man mountain in keeping possession up top when Villa attacked, he scored a fair few goals and he was also a big voice in the dressing room too.
With injuries taking their toll at the start of the season, Heskey came up big in claret and blue, playing a blinder from the bench in the 3-1 League Cup win over Blackburn.
He scored one and made the other two as Villa charged through to the fourth round.
The former England man scored one of the goals of the season in the next game, rising like a salmon in the closing stages at Molineux to give Villa a 2-1 win over Wolves.
And if that wasn't enough, his closing down of Sebastian Bassong at White Hart Lane to set up Marc Albrighton for the opening goal against Tottenham in the following match demonstrated Heskey's big heart for the battle.
Unfortunately he went off injured in that game and then spent some time on the sidelines with a cruciate knee ligament injury before bagging another derby winner, this time in the 2-1 home victory over West Brom.
He followed that up with another in the remarkable 3-3 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Just as he seemed to be building up a head of steam in front of goal, he was dismissed in the home defeat to Sunderland.
This led to a period out of the side but he returned and led the line brilliantly in the 2-1 away win at West Ham, a result many believed aided Villa in their surge up the top-flight table.
That game summed Heskey up in the main.
His contribution to the cause can generally be measured by his tireless work in linking play and setting up his fellow forwards - rather than his goalscoring exploits.
Signed from Wigan Athletic towards the end of the January 2009 transfer window, the much-travelled striker made his debut against Portsmouth at Fratton Park a few nights later - and hit the only goal of the game.
He was also on target in the 1-1 draw against West Ham later in the season, as well as hitting the post with another effort in the same match.
Heskey helped the Foxes to League Cup glory in 1997 and 2000 before making an £11m move to Liverpool.
He scored 23 goals in his first full season at Anfield, helping the Reds to a League Cup, FA Cup and UEFA Cup treble.
He then spent two seasons with Birmingham City before joining Wigan in 2006.
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