Wigan Athletic Football Club News

• Nickname:Latics
• Founded:1932
• Manager:Roberto Martinez

• Ground:JJB Stadium
• Capacity:25,000

Bruce hails 'best' Heskey

07 Dec 2007 - 10:29:41

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Wigan Athletic manager Steve Bruce still believes Emile Heskey is the best centre forward in England.

The pair have been reunited following Bruce's decision to become the new manager of the Latics last month.

Bruce previously signed the England striker for former club Birmingham City in a £3.5million deal from Liverpool in 2004.

At the time the Blues boss was a huge admirer of the muscular striker and he has seen nothing in the first few weeks of his Wigan tenure to change that opinion.

Heskey is expected to play against Bolton on Sunday despite limping out of last weekend's 1-1 draw with Manchester City with a hamstring problem.

"Emile has trained the last couple of days. We're delighted about that, so we think he'll play," said Bruce.

"It's going to take a while, but he's working extremely hard, and let's hope he stays fit because he's like a talisman here.

"I said when I signed him (for Birmingham) that he's the best centre-forward in England because of the way he plays - and he's proved it.

"He has everything a centre-forward would want - he's big, strong, powerful, can receive the ball and can finish.

"The only question mark is whether he gets enough goals and I can understand that.

"But it's what he does for the rest of the team, what he brings to the team, and how he leads the team that's going to be vitally important to me."