When Emile Heskey was named by Kevin Keegan in England's starting line-up for the game against Argentina last Wednesday his mother, Albertine, shed a few tears. Not, however, because she came over all emotional at the thoughts of her son wearing three lions on his chest.

When Emile was just 13 bookies offered his Da Tyrone odds of 1,000-1 on the chances of the lad representing England at every level. Tyrone went to take a 20 pound note out of his pocket to take up the offer but Albertine said "don't be silly - things like that don't happen to us Heskeys". Tyrone took her advice and turned down the offer. Wednesday? "That's wimin for ya," Tyrone would have very probably said, if he'd been in any fit state to talk. The divorce is expected to be messy.