Owen sings the praises of ‘brilliant’ Heskey

MICHAEL OWEN has praised Emile Heskey for the way he answered his critics by rising to the double challenge of racist abuse and a quagmire pitch to help inspire England to victory in their European Championship qualifier in Slovakia.

Heskey went into the game with questions over whether he should even partner Owen after Alan Smith’s fine performance in the friendly international with Portugal at Villa Park last month.

But in Bratislava he was a key performer in leading England’s second half revival despite the handicap of the soggy surface and having to endure monkey chants from home fans who also directed them at Ashley Cole.