Emile Heskey, now with Newcastle Jets, reflects on his England career

Former England striker Emile Heskey has revealed his pride at representing the Three Lions as he settles into a new life Down Under with the Newcastle Jets.

The 34-year-old, who played for Leicester City, Liverpool, Birmingham City, Wigan Athletic and Aston Villa, has scored five goals in his first six games for the Jets.

Talking to the BBC's Football Focus, Heskey said: "I was lucky enough to play at a young age with England from the age of 16 and then played U18s, Under-21s and then managed to get in the full squad."

Roy Hodgson handed out six debuts during England's 4-2 loss to Sweden last week with Raheem Sterling starting aged just 17.

And Heskey insists players are still desperate to be picked for England.

He added: "It's every player's dream, especially when you're playing younger football you want to be playing in the national team. I managed to do that and go to tournaments as well."

However, despite winning 62 caps for the Three Lions, many felt he did not justify his place in the team with a record of seven international goals.

But Heskey said: "There's people out there that can criticise about anything. You'll walk down the road, they'll criticise you for walking along that side of the road and not that side.

"I played football. There's a lot of people that haven't played that can criticise but you haven't stepped in my shoes.

"If I wasn't good enough I wouldn't be there so that's what I told myself. If they didn't want me there they wouldn't pick me, because a lot of the time I got back in there were other players they could have picked."