With a host of injury problems facing Steve McClaren the England
boss has decided to add Wigan striker Emile Heskey to his latest
squad.
Heskey will be involved in the upcoming Euro 2008 qualifiers
against Israel and Russia and will hope to add to the 43 England
caps he holds to date.
Despite their precarious position in Group E - England are
currently fourth three points behind table-toppers Croatia and
Israel - McClaren's men are still seen as one of the favourites to
qualify.
The Latics hitman last played for the national side at Euro 2004
when it was widely predicted that he had won the last of his 43
caps.
However, after McClaren watched the 29-year-old in action at
Newcastle on Saturday he was so impressed that he immediately
contacted Wigan manager Chris Hutchings to request his
release.
"Emile is a player with a lot of international experience and has
played many times with Michael Owen in the past," said
McClaren.
"He has been in good form for Wigan this season. He played very
well against Sunderland recently and I saw him play well against
Newcastle on Saturday.
"While he has been out of the squad for a few years, I have spoken
with (Wigan boss) Chris Hutchings, who has been hugely impressed
with him, and I think he deserves to be recalled. We need his
experience at this time."
Heskey will now hope to get on and deliver a telling blow for
England in their bid to qualify for next summer's showpiece in
Austria and Switzerland.
