Heskey has “instinctive understanding” with Rooney

(GSM) – England striker Emile Heskey says he has an ‘instinctive understanding’ with Wayne Rooney. Heskey hopes the pair’s understanding will ensure he plays for England during the World Cup.

Three Lions boss Fabio Capello has in the past favored a Rooney-Heskey partnership up front. However, Capello started Rooney alongside the in-form Jermaine Defoe before bringing on Peter Crouch.

Crouch played an excellent match, scoring two goals in the process to help England beat the Pharoahs by 3 goals to 1 at Wembley.

And with Crouch now having scored 20 goals in 37 games, Heskey knows his starting place in the national side is at risk.

However, 32-year-old Heskey, thinks his successful partnership with the Manchester United striker will help his case.

“Wayne is a great player and has been in terrific form recently and hopefully he can keep going with that,” he said.

“He has done a lot in his career already, considering his age, and he can go on to do even more.

“Whoever plays up front can make a good partnership – but the one with Wayne and myself has been quite successful in qualifying for the World Cup and it came to us both pretty naturally really.

“We do a lot of work in training when we’re together but it is fairly instinctive when we’re on the pitch.

“The manager has played his part in it, too. He lets everyone know how he wants them to play, so we all know what our jobs are and what team-mates have to do.

“That’s why things went so well and the partnership has been a success.”

Heskey has made 21 appearances in the Premier League for Aston Villa but has only only scored three goals. Still, the veteran striker hopes his experience will take him to South Africa.

“I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed that I’ll be going to the World Cup,” he added.

“I have been to a World Cup, and been through it all, so hopefully that can prove helpful.

“There is experience in the squad and we have players who have been to tournaments.

“Some went to the last World Cup and had a good run there and a few others were at the one I went to in 2002 in Japan so we have that in our locker.

“That can only help to make sure we are prepared.”