A sportsman who fights his way back to the fore can normally expect sentimental applause. Reactions to Emile Heskey, however, are seldom so kindly and the Birmingham City forward has been around too long to expect public rejoicing over his return to the England squad. He is in the party for the World Cup qualifiers against Northern Ireland, at Old Trafford on Saturday, and Azerbaijan at St James' Park four days later.
It is always cruel to treat an individual as a symptom of a malaise but Heskey (27) has sometimes been considered in that manner. His last cap came against France at the opening of Euro 2004. He took the field with 14 minutes left and, as stoppage time was beginning, committed the foul that allowed Zinedine Zidane to score the first of his two goals as England were beaten.
Absurd as it is to judge a striker by his tackling, the episode allowed the animosity towards Heskey to crystallise. He had been found guilty of clumsiness, of using his muscle to the most foolish effect.
The forward, having withdrawn from the friendly with Ukraine in August due to injury, had not been included in Sven-Goran Eriksson's squad since. It turns out, however, that the Swede was trading in more than platitudes when he claimed that the door would still be open to the player depending on his form.
To be exact, the door turns out to be ajar. Heskey might have been omitted again had it not been for a foot injury that puts Andy Johnson's involvement in doubt, though he has a few days to prove his fitness.
As the championing of his manager Steve Bruce indicates, these have been better days for Heskey. His eighth goal of the season was the opener yesterday in Birmingham's 2-0 win over Aston Villa. That does not amount to proof of a prolific scoring instinct but the forward has 43 caps because his stamina and strength are valued.
Heskey cannot, of course, assume that he is at the forefront once again but he will be heartened. It would have been easy for Eriksson to choose someone else but he preferred to ignore Villa's Darius Vassell, whom he previously considered a specialist substitute for England.
The general composition of the squad cannot have taxed Eriksson too much. Matthew Upson is not included but there is an abundance of centre halves in Jamie Carragher, Rio Ferdinand, John Terry, Wes Brown and Ledley King despite the unavailability of Sol Campbell. The attack gives pause for thought but the manager is spoiled for choice in most areas.
Jermaine Jenas is retained, despite starting only one of Newcastle's last seven matches, but his club team-mate Nicky Butt has not been indulged. The midfielder started for Newcastle United against Portsmouth on Saturday but his fitness problems have harmed his season and, along with many others, he had a miserable night in England's friendly with Spain.
Eriksson seems to have been at pains to show his trust in fresher faces, and Stewart Downing, who like Johnson made his debut against Holland, keeps his place.
The squad sees Eriksson reward newcomers, demonstrate continuing faith in others and, in the case of Butt, demonstrate that it is unwise for even long-established England players to take anything for granted.
ENGLAND SQUAD (v Northern Ireland and Azerbaijan in World Cup qualifiers): Robinson (Tottenham), James (Manchester City), Green (Norwich City); G Neville (Manchester Utd), A Cole (Arsenal), P Neville (Manchester Utd), Carragher (Liverpool), Ferdinand (Manchester Utd), Terry (Chelsea), Brown (Manchester United), King (Tottenham); Beckham (Real Madrid), Lampard (Chelsea), Hargreaves (Bayern Munich), Jenas (Newcastle Utd), J Cole (Chelsea), Gerrard (Liverpool), Downing (Middlesbrough), Dyer (Newcastle Utd); Owen (Real Madrid), Defoe (Tottenham), Rooney (Manchester Utd), Johnson (Crystal Palace), Heskey (Birmingham City).
