I'll fight Emile for Blues place, says Morrison
Ireland striker Clinton Morrison has warned Emile Heskey to expect a battle for his place in the Birmingham side next season.
The England international completed a switch from Liverpool to St Andrews in May as Blues boss Steve Bruce moved to strengthen his attacking options.
With Mikael Forssell extending his loan stay from Chelsea for another season, it would now seem a straight choice between Morrison and the former Anfield frontman to play alongside last season’s top scorer.
And Morrison, who will lead the line for Ireland in tonight’s final match of the Unity Cup against Jamaica at The Valley, is looking forward to the challenges of next season.
“I knew he was coming ages ago because the manager told me he wanted to bring in another striker,” said Morrison.
“Emile Heskey is a very good player and it is competition for places, but I am not going to just lie down and say he is going to walk into the team.
“I will just keep doing my stuff, will battle with him and we will have to wait to see what happens.
“It does not mean that just because he plays for England he should play for Birmingham – I am an international with Ireland.”
He added: “Steve Bruce has assured me that as long as he is at Birmingham, I will be there because I was his first major signing.
“He has faith in my ability and that I can go all the way to the top.
“He said it would take some time to adjust, which it has and that next year will be a big year for me.”
Morrison was invited to play for Jamaica, but instead opted for Ireland after being “sold the country” following a meeting with then manager Mick McCarthy.
“I met up with them, but deep down I did not really want to play for them,” said Morrison, who made his Ireland under-21 debut against Portugal in June 2001.
“When I met Mick McCarthy, he sold the country to me really. I made the right decision in the end and am happy to play for Ireland.”
The former Crystal Palace striker went on to score on his senior debut against Croatia and again during his first start against Denmark in March 2002.
Frustrated by a shoulder injury which hampered his progress following the World Cup, Morrison is now enjoying his football again with both club and country as he looks to form a international partnership with Robbie Keane.
“It was a whirlwind start and I managed to score a few goals, but it does take time,” reflected the 25-year-old.
“It is a bit like that in the Premiership, but I am settled now and enjoying my football – it is a joy to play up front with the likes of Robbie Keane.”
He added: “I am not going to take away the goals from my game, but now I am playing with Robbie just off me, winning my fair share of headers and I have worked on my all-round game and my general football. I did not really want the season to end.”
Republic manager Brian Kerr is again set to give fringe players the opportunity to experience senior international football tonight after including several fresh faces in his squad for the end-of-season friendlies, which started against Romania last week and will finish with a trip to Amsterdam on Saturday.
Kerr will expect more than he got against Nigeria at the weekend, a match which ended in Ireland’s heaviest defeat for nine years when they were beaten 3-0.
“I am hoping to see a better performance and will learn more about the players who feature,” he said.
“I am hoping that some will impress enough to make me feel they should play in Amsterdam and secondly that they should be involved in the squad in the future when the World Cup qualifiers come around.”
