Heskey impact can be bigger than Del Piero
Barry Toohey
The Daily Telegraph
September 26, 2012 12:00AM
Newcastle Jets' new striker Emile Heskey - pictured in action for England - can have a big impact on the A-League, says teammate Michael Bridges. Picture: Philippe
NEWCASTLE Jets star Michael Bridges boldly predicts Emile Heskey will make a greater on-field impact in the A-League than Sydney FC's Italian superstar Alessandro Del Piero.
Bridges, who played with Heskey at junior international level in England and against him in the English Premier League, says Heskey will "scare the hell out of defenders" and attract a cult following in Newcastle.
"Emile is a superstar who is going to have a huge impact out here," Bridges said yesterday.
"Del Piero off the field is a priceless marketing commodity - the David Beckham of Italy. It's fantastic.
"But actually on the field for what he is going to give - he'll play a lot of games but I can see Emile giving the Jets a whole new dimension we haven't got and really take the A-League by storm.
"People say he hasn't got a good goalscoring record but if you look at the statistics of every striker who has played alongside of him, guys like Robbie Fowler and Michael Owen - they have gone on to become the top goalscorers in the league.
"He's very unselfish and does a lot of the dog work.
"He actually makes other players because he attracts so much attention from defenders."
It was Bridges who helped the Jets management seal the deal with Heskey, selling Newcastle, the lifestyle and the club to him during several phone conversations and text messages.
"It took some doing but we got there with him in the end," the former Leeds United striker said.
"I just told him I came out here on a six-month deal, fell in love with the place and three years later at this point in time, have no interest in going back."
"It's a growing league and I just said to him he could leave a lasting legacy out here.
"But the real credit for getting someone of his calibre to come has to go to Nathan (owner Nathan Tinkler).
"The way he has backed this is fantastic. Nathan's getting some negative publicity with people saying he is not committed to the club and to Newcastle.
"Well, if this is not commitment, I don't know what is."
Heskey will arrive in Australia with his wife Tagoe and two children on Friday before a planned meet and greet with Jets players that afternoon.
