NEIL RUDDOCK SAYS former Liverpool striker Emile Heskey will relish a return to Anfield on Saturday.
The 37-year-old, who spent four years with the Reds after joining from Leicester City in 2000, signed a short-term deal with Championship club Bolton Wanderers in December.
Playing his club football in Australia with the Newcastle Jets until last year, ex-England international Heskey has linked up with former Leicester City team-mate Neil Lennon, now Bolton manager, and the returning Eidur Gudjohnsen — once of Chelsea and Barcelona.
Speaking in Dublin at Setanta Sports’ media event to launch their upcoming coverage of the fourth round of the FA Cup yesterday, former Liverpool defender Ruddock explained how the pair will be excited by the prospect of featuring at the famous ground again.
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“They will bring a bit of experience in that league,” Ruddock said. “They can hold the ball up and they have changed Bolton.
“I bet Emile and Eidur never thought they would play at Anfield again so they will enjoy it. They don’t come around a lot. I remember being a Liverpool and my dad would say ‘take this in’.
“I went back and played in a charity game in aid of the Tsunami and I played there again in front of a full house when I was about 38. It meant the world to me because only when you’re older do you realise how lucky you have been.”
Ruddock in Dublin with the FA Cup yesterday. Dan Sheridan / INPHO
Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO
Brendan Rodgers will have one eye on Tuesday’s Capital One Cup semi-final with Chelsea when he picks his team for tomorrow’s fourth round tie with the Trotters but Ruddock believes he is unlikely to play a weakened side.
“I don’t think so. As a player, being rested is being dropped as far as I was concerned. You would want to play in both of them games.
“I’d be gutted. If I was a player for Liverpool, I would want to play in both.”
The 46-year-old suffered his fair share of cup upsets during his career and says he never enjoyed playing lower league sides away from home.
It was a no-win situation because you were meant to win the game. If you won the game, you were meant to win it. Most big teams would have been happy with a draw away because you could take them back home and batter them.
“Psychologically, you don’t want it to be in your head and you don’t want to be thinking about it but you do take it onto the pitch.”
Neil Ruddock and Norman Whiteside were in Dublin to announce Setanta Sports’ upcoming coverage of the fourth round of the FA Cup, which includes six live games this weekend. For more, visit www.setanta.com
'I bet Heskey and Gudjohnsen never thought they'd play at Anfield again' - Ruddock
NEIL RUDDOCK SAYS former Liverpool striker Emile Heskey will relish a return to Anfield on Saturday.
The 37-year-old, who spent four years with the Reds after joining from Leicester City in 2000, signed a short-term deal with Championship club Bolton Wanderers in December.
Playing his club football in Australia with the Newcastle Jets until last year, ex-England international Heskey has linked up with former Leicester City team-mate Neil Lennon, now Bolton manager, and the returning Eidur Gudjohnsen — once of Chelsea and Barcelona.
Speaking in Dublin at Setanta Sports’ media event to launch their upcoming coverage of the fourth round of the FA Cup yesterday, former Liverpool defender Ruddock explained how the pair will be excited by the prospect of featuring at the famous ground again.
“They will bring a bit of experience in that league,” Ruddock said. “They can hold the ball up and they have changed Bolton.
“I bet Emile and Eidur never thought they would play at Anfield again so they will enjoy it. They don’t come around a lot. I remember being a Liverpool and my dad would say ‘take this in’.
“I went back and played in a charity game in aid of the Tsunami and I played there again in front of a full house when I was about 38. It meant the world to me because only when you’re older do you realise how lucky you have been.”
Brendan Rodgers will have one eye on Tuesday’s Capital One Cup semi-final with Chelsea when he picks his team for tomorrow’s fourth round tie with the Trotters but Ruddock believes he is unlikely to play a weakened side.
“I don’t think so. As a player, being rested is being dropped as far as I was concerned. You would want to play in both of them games.
“I’d be gutted. If I was a player for Liverpool, I would want to play in both.”
The 46-year-old suffered his fair share of cup upsets during his career and says he never enjoyed playing lower league sides away from home.
“Psychologically, you don’t want it to be in your head and you don’t want to be thinking about it but you do take it onto the pitch.”
Neil Ruddock and Norman Whiteside were in Dublin to announce Setanta Sports’ upcoming coverage of the fourth round of the FA Cup, which includes six live games this weekend. For more, visit www.setanta.com
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All-Ireland Senior HC FA Cup Cup tie Emile Heskey Neil Ruddock Razor Bolton Wanderers Liverpool Veterans