O'Neill vexed by Heskey start

13 February 2009 16:49
Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has voiced his 'surprise' at Emile Heskey's starting role for England in midweek.[LNB] Heskey played the first half of England's 2-0 international friendly defeat to Spain in Seville on Wednesday, despite picking up an Achilles injury during Villa's victory at Blackburn Rovers last weekend.[LNB]O'Neill is set to speak with England boss Fabio Capello after striker Heskey aggravated the problem and is now a major doubt for Sunday's FA Cup clash with Everton at Goodison Park.[LNB]He said: "Emile has aggravated his Achilles. I was surprised he started the England game. He had come off against Blackburn last weekend.[LNB]Assessed"The ruling now is that you go down and be assessed at international level by the international medical team.[LNB]"Knowing Emile, he would have wanted to have gone down there and played in a bit of discomfort but I was surprised he played considering he wouldn't have been fully fit.[LNB]"I didn't speak to Fabio Capello beforehand. I would have thought those things would have been pretty straightforward.[LNB]Sore"Emile has come back, he didn't train today, the Achilles is particularly sore at this minute. If the game was this minute, he couldn't play.[LNB]"It was a friendly international at the end of it all. I can understand it if it was a qualifying game because they are very important to the well-being of the country.[LNB]"But you would have thought rest this particular week would have been the order of the day. I have spoken to the England doctor and voiced some concerns and I will speak to the manager."[LNB]

Source: SKY_Sports