Aston Villa striker John Carew hails 'amazing' Heskey

Jun 2 2009 Mat Kendrick

“He’s been amazing in training, but in the period when you come to a new club you need some extra time to get into the rhythm.For me as well, I really started after maybe being here for six months. That’s when things started to go well.

“It was a bit different because I hadn’t been in England playing before.

“But he’s an England international and he’s at a new club with new players.

“He’s needs games to reach the peak and show everything he can do, which is a lot because he’s a very good football player.”

There were question marks over Carew’s future when Martin O’Neill paid Wigan £3.5million for Heskey in January.

But the Scandinavian powerhouse insists he was always confident enough in his own ability to retain his place in the Villa forward line.

“I think it’s been 100 per cent positive that he came here,” added Carew.

“I have always thought throughout my career that I should play at the highest level and usually I have been playing in the team.

“I try not to worry about who is competing for my position.

“I am always confident in myself and think that I will play and most times in my career it’s been like that.

“Emile’s a great player and it was great for the club to get him here.

“I think he’s done well and it’s good for the competition. The more good players, the better for the team.

“I think he’s been part of raising the level up top because we’ve scored quite a lot of goals and I think the competition has helped us score even more goals.”