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Emile Heskey has told Wanderers fans: "Don’t write me off yet."
The former England international has his sights fixed on earning a short-term deal with the Whites after accepting the offer of a trial from Neil Lennon at the start of the week.
Heskey had been training with Blackburn Rovers up until recently but the 36-year-old striker says he has been fired up since linking-up again with his former Leicester City team-mate and is now intent on proving he can extend his playing career.
“I realise I’m not 18 anymore, hey I’m not even 28, but I have still got a lot to give,” he told The Bolton News.
“People tend to start writing players off once they get into their thirties but I don’t think it’s fair.
“If you are someone who lets themselves go, then fine, but I keep myself fairly active, eat the right things, do the right things. I am sure I can handle this.
“It’s all about your mindset, and that’s how I’m approaching this. I am focused.”
Heskey earned 62 caps for his country and moved for transfer fees in excess of £20 million during a playing career which saw him feature for Leicester, Liverpool, Birmingham City, Wigan Athletic and Aston Villa.
He moved out to Australia just over two years ago to play for Newcastle Jets but had an eye on returning to England for another shot at Premier League football.
“When I went over to Australia I wasn’t sure if I’d play in England again but it’s a case of never say never,” he said. “I always had in the back of my mind that I could come back and play for a few more years.
“I look at what Lamps (Frank Lampard) is doing at Manchester City in the Premier League and also at Dwight Yorke – he was a similar age to me when he came back from Australia and then helped Sunderland get promotion.
“But I’m not kidding myself. I’m obviously looking to carry on playing but the first aim is to get my fitness back at Bolton and then see if it is right for both parties.”
Heskey played alongside Lennon at Leicester for four years and can already see some similarities between the Northern Irishman’s approach on the training ground with their Foxes mentor Martin O’Neill.
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed coming into Bolton,” he said. “I’ve been very impressed, there are some great players here, and I think Neil Lennon is perfectly suited to getting the best out of them.
“We both played under Martin O’Neill at Leicester City and you know what he accomplished there. Neil will have learned a lot.
“At Leicester we were probably the worst squad in the whole division and yet we finished mid-table, got to three cup finals and won two of them.
“We weren’t the best team on paper but everyone knew their part and worked hard.
“When teams came to Filbert Street they knew Leicester weren’t going to lie down.
“That came from the manager – and I can see that here too.
“Neil is trying to instil that kind of spirit here at Bolton. When teams come to the Macron Stadium they are going to leave a little bit battered and a little bit bruised. It is that kind of mentality.”
Heskey has lived in South Manchester for the last five years since playing for Wigan and accepts he has plenty of work on his hands to convince the club and its fans he is still capable of leading the line in the Championship.
But the man who scored England fifth goal in the historic 5-1 victory over Germany in 2001 is sure he can win over his doubters.
“I’m taking it one step at a time,” he said. “If it ticks enough boxes for me and for the team then it would be great to play for Bolton.
“I have really enjoyed being a part of it in training again. The hard work starts here, as they say.
“For now it’s a case of getting up to speed and showing people that I have still got a lot to give.”
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The former England international has his sights fixed on earning a short-term deal with the Whites after accepting the offer of a trial from Neil Lennon at the start of the week.
Heskey had been training with Blackburn Rovers up until recently but the 36-year-old striker says he has been fired up since linking-up again with his former Leicester City team-mate and is now intent on proving he can extend his playing career.
“I realise I’m not 18 anymore, hey I’m not even 28, but I have still got a lot to give,” he told The Bolton News.
“People tend to start writing players off once they get into their thirties but I don’t think it’s fair.
“If you are someone who lets themselves go, then fine, but I keep myself fairly active, eat the right things, do the right things. I am sure I can handle this.
“It’s all about your mindset, and that’s how I’m approaching this. I am focused.”
Heskey earned 62 caps for his country and moved for transfer fees in excess of £20 million during a playing career which saw him feature for Leicester, Liverpool, Birmingham City, Wigan Athletic and Aston Villa.
He moved out to Australia just over two years ago to play for Newcastle Jets but had an eye on returning to England for another shot at Premier League football.
“When I went over to Australia I wasn’t sure if I’d play in England again but it’s a case of never say never,” he said. “I always had in the back of my mind that I could come back and play for a few more years.
“I look at what Lamps (Frank Lampard) is doing at Manchester City in the Premier League and also at Dwight Yorke – he was a similar age to me when he came back from Australia and then helped Sunderland get promotion.
“But I’m not kidding myself. I’m obviously looking to carry on playing but the first aim is to get my fitness back at Bolton and then see if it is right for both parties.”
Heskey played alongside Lennon at Leicester for four years and can already see some similarities between the Northern Irishman’s approach on the training ground with their Foxes mentor Martin O’Neill.
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed coming into Bolton,” he said. “I’ve been very impressed, there are some great players here, and I think Neil Lennon is perfectly suited to getting the best out of them.
“We both played under Martin O’Neill at Leicester City and you know what he accomplished there. Neil will have learned a lot.
“At Leicester we were probably the worst squad in the whole division and yet we finished mid-table, got to three cup finals and won two of them.
“We weren’t the best team on paper but everyone knew their part and worked hard.
“When teams came to Filbert Street they knew Leicester weren’t going to lie down.
“That came from the manager – and I can see that here too.
“Neil is trying to instil that kind of spirit here at Bolton. When teams come to the Macron Stadium they are going to leave a little bit battered and a little bit bruised. It is that kind of mentality.”
Heskey has lived in South Manchester for the last five years since playing for Wigan and accepts he has plenty of work on his hands to convince the club and its fans he is still capable of leading the line in the Championship.
But the man who scored England fifth goal in the historic 5-1 victory over Germany in 2001 is sure he can win over his doubters.
“I’m taking it one step at a time,” he said. “If it ticks enough boxes for me and for the team then it would be great to play for Bolton.
“I have really enjoyed being a part of it in training again. The hard work starts here, as they say.
“For now it’s a case of getting up to speed and showing people that I have still got a lot to give.”
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