Steve Bruce is convinced Emile Heskey will be a Wigan player until at least the summer.
Heskey’s contract is winding down and he has been linked with moves to Aston Villa and former club Liverpool.
Reports on Monday claim Heskey has agreed a summer move to Liverpool, although there has been no comment from any of the interested parties.
Bruce feels Heskey is benefiting from playing regular football with Wigan and has urged the striker to think about his international ambitions before he makes a decision on his future.
“I wouldn’t say we are direct, but we get the ball up to him quickly, which is his strength,” Bruce said on Setanta Sports News.
”He is the focal point of the team and he has got himself in the England team playing for us.
“Now if I was Emile I would be looking at it and saying I am enjoying it, can I be England’s centre forward at the World Cup in 18 months’ time? That would be what I am looking at and to do that, at his age, he needs to be playing every week.
“I know the big boys are around, but I think he will get over the January window and see what he has to do for himself in the summer.”