Emile Heskey reveals son Jaden is enjoying ‘getting battered’ at EFL strugglers

Jaden Heskey has been loving his loan at Sheffield Wednesday this season despite losing all but one of his 12 games so far.

At least according to his legendary dad, Emile Heskey, he is.

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The 20-year-old joined the Championship strugglers on loan in January, and he’s still not felt the feeling of victory.

Sheffield Wednesday have been rooted to the bottom of the second tier all season, having been deducted a total of 18 points.

The Owls have had a nightmare year on and off the pitch, having been placed into administration and breached EFL rules.

Heskey joined the club in hopes of helping them out amid their woes, but things haven’t managed to get any better, as they were officially relegated with 13 games to play in February.

They have lost 11 of their 12 games that the Manchester City loanee has been involved in, with their only point coming against Watford.

But despite that, Heskey Sr. has spoken about how much his son has been enjoying his time at Hillsborough so far.

The ex-Liverpool striker was asked whether his other son, Reigan, who is still at Man City, could benefit from a loan move like Jaden’s.

Reigan has been training with the likes of Erling Haaland and Phil Foden at times when he joins up with the City first team.

Heskey told GOAL: “When you’re training with the first-team etc., you’re getting a really great understanding.

“But training with them as opposed to going out to Sheffield Wednesday and getting battered, it’s a little bit different, but he’s [Jaden] enjoying that.

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“He’s loving that side of the battle because emotionally it just sends you on a roller coaster as well, but you’ve still got to be up for the next game.

“You’ve got another game in three days’ time, so you’ve got to be up for that battle all the time.

“Different types of football, not having the best players all the time. This is all part and parcel of football.”

Following Jaden’s path

Heskey then went on to speak more about his other son, Reigan, who is two years younger than his brother at 18.

He has spent his entire fledgling career at Man City so far, with no loan moves away from the club happening just yet.

His dad has discussed whether he thinks Reigan should get out of his comfort zone and head to the EFL like Jaden, saying: “I think within football, you need to have senior experience.

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“Because the reality is you could be the best at 16, 17, 18 until you go and get that experience. You play against a grown man who has experience, who probably isn’t your level, but the mental side and the understanding of things positional-wise can better you.

“You need to figure all that out, and then you’re figuring out things during the game. So all players I would say at a young age need to get that experience.

“You look at the young lad down in London, Max Dowman, at 15, 16, what he’s doing.

“It’s all well and good doing it at 15, 16 against 18-year-olds, but when you go into the first team, if you can’t do it there and it doesn’t transcend into that, it really doesn’t matter.

“So yes, at some stage, and that’s why with Jaden we had to take a jump of getting first-team football as opposed to being captain of the 21’s and winning the 21’s trophies and all the accolades that come with that.

“That’s great, but you need to play first-team football because long-term that’s what matters.”