John Carew is convinced Aston Villa will see the best of his strike partner Emile Heskey next season.
Heskey struggled to make a telling impact after his £3.5million move from Wigan in January - and he also suffered Achilles and hamstring setbacks, but Carew has faith in the England forward, now his initial settling in period is behind him.
The Norwegian international said: "There's no doubt he's been a great signing - 100%. You always need a bit of time to settle in and find your feet. I am sure Emile has yet to reach his peak here - but he has a lot to offer because he is a really, really good footballer. I am sure we will see that even more next season."
He added: "At the time, I was injured - and we obviously needed a new striker. Emile is a great player, and I think it was a great move from the club to get him here in January.
"It definitely improved the competition, and you need plenty of good players at a football club. It made every player - particularly those of us up front - raise their levels.
"It took me about six months after I came to Villa from Lyon. You are at a new club with new players."
Carew is optimistic about the 2009-2010 campaign, despite the loss of captain Martin Laursen and midfielder Gareth Barry.
He said: "It is a very important season for Aston Villa next season. But we improved last season, and the players here are getting better and better.
"We have got some fantastic young talent."
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I agree with Zippy, I trust in MON and believe he is working under the radar to bring in the quality and depth in the squad that we'd need to avoid that tail end of season malaise that we seem to suffer season in season out. I have great expectations for the 2009/10 season. Up the Villa!!!
listen to zippy,what he says is so true. UP THE VILLANS
heskey peaked at leicester!...done nothing since!
Unlike a lot of clubs Villa dont shout their buisness from the roof tops.MON will be quietely getting on with things & will make signings.Have faith.
We keep hearing about Martin Laursen and GB having left; Stuart Taylor is not such a big deal, but where are the new players coming in? Why did Villa 'run out of steam' the last third last season.....because the squad didn't have enough strength in depth, we are still with the same squad minus GB (although I beleive 'Stan' Petrov will flourish even more than last season without him) - come on MON at least give us some hopeful roumors - we all beleive in you, just give us mere mortals some morsels!!
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