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Veteran front man Emile Heskey has been drafted in to work with Wanderers’ Under-21s.
The former England striker has been working towards his coaching badges and is assisting Iain Brunskill in the development squad following the departure of Andy Hughes to Rotherham United.
Heskey, who turns 38 this month, is still undecided whether this will be his final season as a player.
The ex-Liverpool and Aston Villa man has worked as a TV and radio pundit and alongside Paul Rachubka, has also been Wanderers’ PFA representative during the recent financial issues.
But while Heskey is undecided how far down the coaching route he intends to go, he has enjoyed his first taste of the dugout with the Whites.
“I’m currently doing my coaching badges so I’ll see how it progresses,” he said. “They’re something you are going to need and I probably should have done them a long time ago.
“Coaching is coaching – you always want to pass on your knowledge rather than take it with you, especially if you’ve had a long career like me.
“I don’t know yet if I will go into coaching, though, you get your badges and take a few sessions and then figure it out from there if it is for you or not.”
Heskey’s first game alongside Brunskill was an eventful one – the young Wanderers going 3-0 up against Coventry City only to end up losing the game 4-3.
“We’ve got a good set-up here with the Under-21s,” he said. “It was different being on the coaching side and it wasn’t the result I was hoping for but it was a nice first half!
“They have got to start putting two halves together – they did really well in the first half to play Coventry off the park and go 3-0 up but unfortunately the second half didn’t go according to plan.
“I’ve also done some work with the Under-18s and it’s a learning curve for both set-ups at this age. You’ve got to take positives from every performance and then work on eliminating the negatives.
“I’ve played with the Under-21s a couple of times too and they play some decent football but sometimes the decision-making at that level is a little different, a little slower than senior football maybe. But they are going in the right direction and just need that little bit of experience to drive them on.
“We’ve got some good, talented youngsters here who will listen and want to learn and take it when you give them advice.”
One such youngster is a graduate of the youth and development squads, Zach Clough, with Heskey rating the young striker alongside some of the most talented he has encountered in a 21-year playing career.
Heskey made his debut for Leicester City on the same day that Clough was born and the veteran believes Wanderers should harness the energy he and other graduates of the club’s youth system currently bring.
“Zach is up there,” he told the club’s match-day programme. “He has a lot of ability and he’s confident in his ability. He takes a lot in when you talk to him.
“He’s been unlucky with injuries and they came at a bad time for him but he’s very professional and he came through his rehab well.
“Having him back in the side has given us all a boost because he’s a player we need.
“I remember making my debut at 17, it was a wonderful occasion and a phenomenal feeling – at that age you know you want to play football but don’t know if you’ll make it professionally.
“To make my debut was a dream come true and the further I have progressed in my career, the more childhood dreams have come true.
“It’s the same now. I’m still living the dream. I’m a professional footballer – what more could I ask for?”
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The former England striker has been working towards his coaching badges and is assisting Iain Brunskill in the development squad following the departure of Andy Hughes to Rotherham United.
Heskey, who turns 38 this month, is still undecided whether this will be his final season as a player.
The ex-Liverpool and Aston Villa man has worked as a TV and radio pundit and alongside Paul Rachubka, has also been Wanderers’ PFA representative during the recent financial issues.
But while Heskey is undecided how far down the coaching route he intends to go, he has enjoyed his first taste of the dugout with the Whites.
“I’m currently doing my coaching badges so I’ll see how it progresses,” he said. “They’re something you are going to need and I probably should have done them a long time ago.
“Coaching is coaching – you always want to pass on your knowledge rather than take it with you, especially if you’ve had a long career like me.
“I don’t know yet if I will go into coaching, though, you get your badges and take a few sessions and then figure it out from there if it is for you or not.”
Heskey’s first game alongside Brunskill was an eventful one – the young Wanderers going 3-0 up against Coventry City only to end up losing the game 4-3.
“We’ve got a good set-up here with the Under-21s,” he said. “It was different being on the coaching side and it wasn’t the result I was hoping for but it was a nice first half!
“They have got to start putting two halves together – they did really well in the first half to play Coventry off the park and go 3-0 up but unfortunately the second half didn’t go according to plan.
“I’ve also done some work with the Under-18s and it’s a learning curve for both set-ups at this age. You’ve got to take positives from every performance and then work on eliminating the negatives.
“I’ve played with the Under-21s a couple of times too and they play some decent football but sometimes the decision-making at that level is a little different, a little slower than senior football maybe. But they are going in the right direction and just need that little bit of experience to drive them on.
“We’ve got some good, talented youngsters here who will listen and want to learn and take it when you give them advice.”
One such youngster is a graduate of the youth and development squads, Zach Clough, with Heskey rating the young striker alongside some of the most talented he has encountered in a 21-year playing career.
Heskey made his debut for Leicester City on the same day that Clough was born and the veteran believes Wanderers should harness the energy he and other graduates of the club’s youth system currently bring.
“Zach is up there,” he told the club’s match-day programme. “He has a lot of ability and he’s confident in his ability. He takes a lot in when you talk to him.
“He’s been unlucky with injuries and they came at a bad time for him but he’s very professional and he came through his rehab well.
“Having him back in the side has given us all a boost because he’s a player we need.
“I remember making my debut at 17, it was a wonderful occasion and a phenomenal feeling – at that age you know you want to play football but don’t know if you’ll make it professionally.
“To make my debut was a dream come true and the further I have progressed in my career, the more childhood dreams have come true.
“It’s the same now. I’m still living the dream. I’m a professional footballer – what more could I ask for?”
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