There is a lot more to come from me, declares Heskey

Emile Heskey believes he has done enough to warrant keeping his starting place up front for England.

The 29-year-old played for England for the first time in three years in the victories over Israel and Russia which revived England's hopes of qualifying for next year's European Championships.

The Wigan striker linked up well with Michael Owen, but Wayne Rooney is expected to be fit again to face Estonia next month.

But Heskey told BBC's Football Focus, to be broadcast today: "I feel I've done enough to deserve to start the next game. You have got to look at the team and the squad that coach Steve McClaren picks and you must pick the right team to play the opposition.

"I did what I had to do against Russia, but there's a lot more to come from me. But as a player you want to start all the time, definitely. You go to any player and ask them if they want to start and they are not worth having in the squad if they want to sit on the bench."

With Liverpool's Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe, of Tottenham Hotspur, spending most of the season so far on the bench, Heskey's regular Premier League appearances with Wigan stand him in good stead.

Heskey added: "To be honest, I think there is still a lot more to come from me. I did what I had to do against Russia, I would probably give myself a seven out of 10 for my performance.

"I know I have got more than that. But for that game it was ideal that I played in that way."

As Wigan prepared to take on Fulham, manager Lawrie Sanchez was plotting a way to stop Heskey.

"I have always liked Emile," Sanchez said. "I think he has been given a hard time but it is nice to see an English team whack the ball up to a centre-forward to head down for the little striker to score.

"I think Emile has been hard done by in this country. If he became available he'd certainly be a player I would be interested in.

"Emile is a man-mountain and when he uses his strength, weight and height there are not many people who can stop him. Russia and Israel found that out the other day."

Reflecting on the way his own side might shackle the England striker, Sanchez said: "You have to stop the service to him. And it is not the first ball you need to be worried about, it is the second ball you need to deal with."