Aston Villa rule out summer swoop for Michael Owen

Jan 24 2009 by Mathew Kendrick, Birmingham Mail

MARTIN O’Neill revealed new signing Emile Heskey has arrived at Villa Park with a ringing endorsement – from England superstar Michael Owen.

But the Villa boss shrugged off suggestions he might try to rekindle the Heskey-Owen partnership with a summer swoop for the Newcastle striker.

O’Neill believes the glowing reference Owen regularly gives Heskey is a sign of the high regard in which the new claret and blue battering ram is held.

He accepts transforming Heskey into a prolific goalscorer might be beyond him.

“Is he a better player than when we had him at Leicester?” said O’Neill.

“Of course he is. Absolutely. He’s got better all-round awareness of the game. He was only a kid then with driving ambition.

“He’s played for England about 50 times, which is brilliant.