Heskey pleads for England chance

England v Israel
Wembley Stadium
Saturday, 8 September
Kick-off: 1700 BST
Live coverage on BBC One, BBC Radio 5live & the BBC Sport website

Recalled England striker Emile Heskey has urged coach Steve McClaren to give him the chance to prove he is good enough for play for his country.

The 29-year-old Wigan hitman has been drafted in for two Euro 2008 qualifiers after three years in the wilderness.

Heskey told the Daily Mail: "It's been a long time. I had no idea I was under consideration by the manager and it's a great chance to show I'm good enough.

"If I get the chance I will prove it. I don't have any doubt - why should I?"

If Heskey does play against either Israel at Wembley on Saturday or Russia four days later, he is likely to link up with his old Liverpool and England strike partner Michael Owen.

Heskey has no doubt that he can complement Owen's game in a way that has previously proved successful at club and country level.

"Of course Michael and I are different players, there's no doubt about that," added the former Liverpool striker.

"I know how he plays and we've proved we can play together. We complement each other's games. He is a quality striker and he is there to get goals.

"We saw what kind of player he is on Saturday when he scored for Newcastle in the last minute against us.

"He has the ability to pop up from nowhere to score goals, but my strengths are in other areas of the pitch.

"You have to play with Michael to appreciate what a good player he is and he is certainly that. But I don't know if it is a plan for us to start together against Israel."


Meanwhile, McClaren has insisted that midfielder Joe Cole remains an integral part of his plans for the future.

Cole has struggled to get into the Chelsea side this season and speculation arose after he was taken off in the friendly defeat by Germany that McClaren was unhappy with his display.

But the coach said: "Joe is very valuable to England. He hardly played for us last season and we missed him.

"He showed how important he was to us in the summer when he came back against Estonia and scored.

"I have made a point to him about his performances and he know what he has to do."