Aston Villa: Dion Dublin tells critics to lay off Emile Heskey
Jun 10 2010
Dion Dublin believes Villa scapegoat Emile Heskey could become England’s unlikely World Cup hero if the nation gets behind him.
Heskey is still in contention to partner star striker Wayne Rooney in attack when the Three Lions kick off against USA on Saturday.
The Villa powerhouse has struggled to reproduce his international form in the claret and blue of his club during the past 18 months.
But Dublin reckons Heskey has done more than enough to justify his inclusion in Fabio Capello’s final 23-man squad for South Africa.
The former Villa and England frontman resents Heskey’s critics labelling the Blues old boy a “failure” and making him the fall guy. And Dublin believes Heskey could emerge as a surprise star of the tournament if he is given support rather than abuse by the country.
Heskey’s popularity was hardly helped by the accidental collision which ended England captain Rio Ferdinand’s World Cup involvement.
“Some of the flak that has come Emile Heskey’s way is completely unfair,” said Dublin. “He gets a harsh press, which is not deserved at all. When I see people calling him a failure and things like that I wonder what they’re on about.
“Do these people know what he’s achieved and what a good player he is? I’m not sure they do if they’re calling him a failure.
“Emile is experienced enough not to worry about what people say about him, but it would be nice if they would lay off him and get behind him for once.
“Get off his back and let him play his game because he will deliver. He could be a very important player for England at the World Cup.’’
Heskey has been criticised for his lack of goals for his country, having scored only seven times in more than 50 England appearances.
And the 32-year-old’s record is little better for Villa, with whom he has found the net eight times since arriving from Wigan in January 2009.
But Dublin subscribes to the view that the £3.5 million signing’s unselfish play helps him contribute much more to the team than goals.
“I can’t believe people are still asking if Emile should be in the squad – of course he should,” said Dublin.
“He played a vital role in England’s World Cup qualifying campaign and Fabio Capello will remember that and appreciate that.
“Emile is a proven international striker and if he wasn’t good enough he would be nowhere near the squad.
“Fabio Capello knows what he is doing and knows that Emile can play an important role at the World Cup.
“Everybody knows Emile doesn’t score enough goals for a centre-forward – I’ve told him that to his face and he knows that.
“But I’ve always said that if you’re not scoring goals you have to be doing something else and Emile does that.
“His presence in the team brings out the best in other players.
‘‘He puts his body on the line and takes a battering from defenders to allow other forwards space.’’
Source; www.birminghammail.net
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FAQ
) but in answer to the A-B-E t-shirts, these are being marketed.
Anyway it's not that I think Nigeria have any chance of winning it's just that's who I got in the sweepstake in the office 
