Wigan Athletic Football Club News

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

• Ground:JJB Stadium
• Capacity:25,000

Heskey closes England door

09 Aug 2007 - 10:17:19

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Wigan Athletic striker Emile Heskey says he has accepted the fact that his international career with England is over.

The 29-year-old former Birmingham City, Liverpool and Leicester City frontman has won 43 international caps to date, but has not featured since Euro 2004.

However, despite Portsmouth duo David James and Sol Campbell rumoured to be close to international recalls, Heskey feels his England days are long gone.

He told the Daily Mirror: "I can't say my England career is over because I'm not retiring, but I understand the way the manager might be looking at things because there are so many good strikers around.

"It's in England's interests to look at those guys. There are different options up there."

Meanwhile, Latics boss Chris Hutchings has paid tribute to left-back Leighton Baines following his £5million switch to Everton.

He told the club's official website: "Leighton is a quality player and it has been my privilege to see him come up through the ranks at Wigan and mature into a first-class professional.

"Naturally I would like to have kept him, because he is a fantastic player who will bring a lot to any team he plays for, but at the same time I understand the reasons he has gone."