Morrison Full Of Praise For Heskey

By Aydan Anderson
December 30 2004

Clinton Morrison has expressed his joy at playing alongside former England striker Emile Heskey. Morrison and Heskey have formed a match winning partnership scoring six goals between them in four games and Morrison thanks Heskey for playing his part in it...

Clinton Morrison has expressed his delight at playing alongside former Liverpool and England striker Emile Heskey. The two have formed one of the most in-form striking partnerships in the Premier League over the last few weeks scoring six goals between them in just four games.

Morrison has scored four goals in six games and believes playing alongside Heskey has been the main factor behind his return to form.

"It's a great partnership and Emile has certainly helped me because recently I've started scoring loads of goals, and it's all because of him, really. I'm not doing most of the winning headers and running down the channels, Emile does that. I can stay in the box now and try to get on the end of things and score goals."

"He takes all the bruises, but he likes that. He likes the physical battle because he's a big bloke - and I can just feed off the scraps, which is good for me at the moment."

Morrison also reveled that the pair enjoy playing alongside each other and that he hopes their form together will help Heskey win his England place back:

"Emile is playing really well and he deserves all the credit he's getting at the moment. He's terrific and I enjoy playing with him. It's a good partnership and I hope it will help him get back in the England team."

"After that goal against Fulham he should be in England contention. He's scored three goals in the last three games and his all round game is very good so hopefully he will get an England call-up."

Last season Morrison was playing as the target striker with Mikael Forssell feeding off him. This meant Morrison spent most his time operating down the flanks or trying to win headers but this season the addition of Heskey means that Morrison is now the man in the box. Because of this Morrison is finally showing the kind of form that convinced Steve Bruce to spend £4million on him in 2002. And Morrison certainly enjoys being the main striker instead of the work horse.

"We are causing all sorts of problems, and you could see that against Fulham. I know every time Emile goes up in the air that nine times out of ten he is going to win his headers."

"He's big and he's physical and the manager tells me to gamble and get on the end of his flick-ons. It's working really well for me and I'm enjoying the partnership."

"In a way, Emile is a players' player. He is not going to get you loads and loads of goals in a season but he creates a lot for the team and he's a great outlet for the team."