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Emile Heskey at pains to aid Gerard Houllier
EMILE HESKEY is determined to put two months of injury frustration behind him and help ease the pressure on Gerard Houllier at Aston Villa.
Heskey, who owes the £11million move he made to Liverpool earlier in his career to former Anfield manager Houllier, has cut a miserable figure after a knee operation in October.
He has been forced to sit and watch Villa slide down the Premier League table but returned with a goal in Saturday’s 2-1 win over West Brom.
“It was great to get a goal straight away, having been sidelined for two months after my surgery,” said Heskey.
“We needed the points and that’s the main thing. I just want to stay injury-free and keep putting in good performances so that we can concentrate on moving up the table.
“We want the West Brom win to be a springboard for us. We want to push on. It has to start somewhere and we want the West Brom result to be it.
“To be back involved is fantastic, not only on the pitch but also in training, running, tackling. I am doing everything and I am pain-free.”
Emile Heskey is determined to put two months of injury frustration behind him
Gary McAllister, Houllier’s assistant, feels the club will gain a huge lift from the return of Heskey, whom he believes can play at the highest level for at least two more seasons.
Like Heskey, McAllister retired from international football to prolong his domestic career and he said: “ It extended my career for a couple of seasons and it can do the same for Emile.”