Wigan owner Dave Whelan is not averse to bringing back Emile Heskey back to the DW Stadium in the New Year. The Latics sold the England international striker to Aston Villa last January in a £3.5million as his contract was coming to an end.

The 31-year-old has started just one Premier League game this season and Whelan is baffled as to why the 57-cap international is not a regular.

"I find it very strange that Emile can play for England and obviously play well and he can't get selected for Aston Villa," he told Sky Sports News. "It's very, very strange.

"I have a great deal of sympathy for him. He's one wonderful football player. As a gentleman and a lad he's 100 per cent. When he goes out on the park he gives 110 per cent out of Emile.

"We could well be (interested). I thought he was fantastic for us. He was coming to the end of his contract and obviously wanted to move on. As usual I honoured his wishes.

"It's strange. He's such a wonderful target man up front. I thought the lad Agbonlahor would score a lot of goals off Emile. I think everybody in football would like Emile somewhere in their squad.

"I've just listened to what John Terry said. John Terry knows how difficult he is to play against. When you get a centre half of his quality and he's saying he's difficult to play against you'd better believe it.

"I think we got about £3.5million for him. He's got to be worth that. I'd be very surprised if Aston Villa sell him. He really, really wants to go the World Cup in South Africa. I think he's got a future at Villa I really do."