Davies offers Heskey backing

Villa hit-man should make Capello's WC squad

Last updated: 6th November 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Davies offers Heskey backing

Heskey: Wants World Cup place

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Bolton captain Kevin Davies has backed Emile Heskey to make England's World Cup squad, irrespective of whether he is playing regularly at Aston Villa.

Heskey has been linked with a move away from Villa Park in the January transfer window, as he is concerned a lack of playing time between now and the campaign's close could hinder his chances of appearing in South Africa.

It has been a peculiar year for Heskey, who struggled to cement a first-team place at Villa after his move from Wigan, yet remained a fixture in Fabio Capello's first-choice England XI as they qualified with ease for South Africa 2010.

Last month Heskey denied he was considering his future and has been handed a starting berth in each of Villa's last three games.

Heskey will be hoping O'Neill selects him to lead the line again for Villa on Saturday when they host Bolton in the Premier League, but according to Davies, the former Liverpool forward need not worry about his place in the national team.

Big fan

"I think Fabio is a big fan of his," Davies said.

"He's been in there ahead of strikers who are playing better and scoring more goals but I think as a target man, Fabio fancies him and likes the way he plays.

"I think he will be on the plane regardless, but like any player, you have to fight for your spot in your side and I'm sure he is trying to do that."

Bolton go into Saturday's game looking to bounce back after suffering two consecutive 4-0 defeats at the hands of Chelsea over the last 10 days.

Those results - which came last week at Stamford Bridge in the Carling Cup and on Saturday at the Reebok Stadium in the league - have left some bruised egos around the club, but Davies hopes the experience will galvanise the players for the trip to Villa.

"I've been speaking to the players and it hurts," Davies said.

"But the only way (to respond) is to get to the next game and take your anger and frustration down there.

Humiliating

"To lose like that is a bit humiliating really. In the first half (on Saturday) we did play well and matched them - if it had stayed 0-0, we would have given them a few more difficult times.

"But we are not down about it, we lost a game against one of the best sides in Europe and the lads are fine.

"The training has been fine this week and with them (Villa) playing midweek (against West Ham), we'll try and use that to our advantage."

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