Martin O’Neill has reiterated that he doesn’t believe Emile Heskey should have played for England earlier in the week as it aggravated his Achilles injury.
Speaking on the official site O’Neill revealed that Heskey is now ‘touch and go’ for Sunday’s FA Cup clash against Everton.
‘There is a set of rules now where, even if we felt a player had an injury, he still has to link up with the international squad to be assessed by their doctor.
‘Luke Young went away and came back because of his sore toe and we thought the same might also apply to Emile.
‘As it turns out, it didn’t and he played the game.
‘Now he is very, very sore from the same injury he had against Blackburn. I am perturbed, surprised and disappointed.
‘It’s a problem for us now because he is touch and go for the game on Sunday. In my opinion, he shouldn’t have played in the game.’
It’s not the first time O’Neill has spoken about friendly matches and their importance over ‘club’ football and it’s hard not to agree with him.
The world and his dog knew that Heskey had taken a knock, and it’s not like Capello doesn’t know what Heskey can do in an England shirt. There was no need to play him and risk further injury. He also had options and if the idea of friendlies is to ‘look at’ new players, they why leave two flying wingers on the bench?
O’Neill continued:
‘Generally speaking, I can understand the situation for an international manager wanting to try some players out.
‘But from a club point of view it’s particularly hopeless – and always has been. The friendlies from a club perspective are an absolute waste of time.’
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