Bruce has faith in Heskey
Birmingham City manager Steve Bruce has insisted that Emile Heskey “has nothing to prove” after he capped another fine display with the winning goal against Manchester City at St Andrews.
Bruce has never had any doubts about the impact that Heskey could make on Blues despite falling down the pecking order with both Liverpool and England over the past 12 months.
That faith was justified as Heskey sent an unstoppable header past David James for his first goal since his £6.25m (€9.3m) summer switch from Anfield and sealed Birmingham’s first win in 11 games since late March.
Heskey could hardly contain his joy after finding the target for the first time since scoring against Birmingham in Liverpool’s 3-0 win at St Andrews last May when the deal had been virtually signed, sealed and delivered.
Bruce said: “I don’t think Emile has got anything to prove. He is 26. He has got 40-odd England caps. I have seen him often do it against us and other teams.
“We had signed Emile. Basically the deal had been struck when he came and played here last year and I was cursing him at the time.”
