Bruce: Heskey's the leader

Wigan boss Steve Bruce has praised Emile Heskey as an "influential" presence and has said he is looking forward to the England striker's imminent return from injury. Heskey has been out for 11 weeks.

"Emile has trained the last couple of days. We're delighted about that, so we think he'll play," Bruce said.

"It's going to take a while, but he is working extremely hard, and let's hope he stays fit because he is like a talisman here.

"I said when I signed him [for Birmingham], he is the best centre-forward in England because of the way he plays, and he has proved it.

"He has everything a centre-forward would want - he's big, strong, powerful, can receive the ball, and can finish.

"The only question mark is whether he gets enough goals, and I can understand that.

"But it's what he does for the rest of the team, what he brings to the team, and how he leads the team that's going to be vitally important to me.

"And he is going to be the leader. He earned that from his performance in the final game of the season at Sheffield United.

"I sat and watched that and drooled over him because it was a fantastic performance.

"When you work with him and you see what he has, then he could go into any team - and I mean this sincerely - and he would stop any doubter."