Source: Team_Talk
Collymore support for Heskey
Heskey has endured a testing first 12 months at Villa after his £3.5million switch from Wigan and has not always been guaranteed a first-team spot.[LNB]But the England striker netted his first goal of the season in the recent draw at Burnley and was also on target in Tuesday's 4-2 win at Portsmouth in the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup.[LNB]Former Villa and England striker Collymore told Villa's official website: "I know Emile very well from our days at Leicester and I'll never forget the one game we had together.[LNB]"We beat Sunderland 5-2 and I scored a hat-trick. He set up a couple of my goals too. I'm certainly one of the band of strikers who have nothing but praise for him.[LNB]"I was delighted to see him score his first goal of the season at Burnley and then follow it up the other night with another against Portsmouth in the Carling Cup.[LNB]"Hopefully those will silence his critics. He has had a lot of stick in recent weeks and in my opinion it's totally unjustified."[LNB]Collymore added: "While people cast doubts over his scoring record, I can't speak highly enough of him, and I'm sure you would get the same response from people like Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney.[LNB]"They have benefited enormously from playing alongside him with England.[LNB]"In terms of his overall contribution to a team, Emile is vastly underrated and he's very much a players' player.[LNB]"He is obviously an experienced player too, who can help to bring on Villa's youngsters and he's a nice lad who fits in well in the dressing room.[LNB]"Martin O'Neill has worked with him before so I reckon Villa will definitely get the best out of him."[LNB][LNB][LNB]
