Heskey - Wigan on the upEmile Heskey may still be getting his bearings at Wigan, but he feels the club is only heading in one direction.
Playing in his 500th career club match, Wigan's £5.5million record signing scored his first goal since February to get Wigan off the mark in the new season.
Limping off with an ankle injury late on put a slight dampener on the occasion, but with a two-week international break Heskey should be fit again for Wigan's next game at Portsmouth on September 9.
And if he reproduces the form he showed against the Royals, it might not be long before such 'breaks' see him back in the England fold.
At least he knows his way around the international set-up, unlike the JJB Stadium as he had to ask the way to the players' lounge after the game in order to celebrate the victory with his new team-mates.
For now, as Heskey put it, both he and the club are "off and running" and with the hope there is plenty to more come.
"Saturday was a good day for me, and the club as well," said the 28-year-old striker.
"For me, it was good to get my first goal for the club, but you have to put in the performance as well, and I felt I did that."
Heskey certainly made his presence felt against boss Steve Coppell's Premiership newcomers, not only scoring the goal but also hitting the crossbar and seeing another effort land on top of the net.
One of six new players in the side, Heskey feels Wigan have quickly found their stride, with the suggestion they can more than match the 10th-place finish of last season.
"I've been made to feel welcome, as have the other new players, and we've all settled fairly well," added Heskey, who joined the Latics from Birmingham seven weeks ago.
"You always want a challenge, and that's why I came here. It's a club on the up, pretty much like when I was at Leicester, and I want to be part of it.
"We definitely feel we can build on what was achieved here last season. Hopefully we can push our way up the league."
As for adding to his 43 caps, with his last now over two years ago, Heskey replied: "Who knows?
"It's about playing with confidence, that's the main thing, scoring goals and putting in good performances."
Manager Paul Jewell certainly believes Heskey has all the attributes to play again for England, as does captain Arjan de Zeeuw.
"I think Emile would love to be an international player again," said the Dutch centre-back.
"To do that he has to score goals for us and play well, and I'm hoping he is going to do that. He has certainly made a good start.
"In pre-season he played well and we're quite confident he will continue to do well.
"The one thing I'll say about Emile, he works his socks off for the team. He doesn't give defenders a moment's peace.
"I know he's had his critics, but you are always going to get critics if you've been in the international set-up.
"It's easy for people to give you stick when you are not doing what they want you to do.
"But you have to give him some credit because even when it doesn't go for him, he never lets off. He keeps on going, while he's a good lad to have in the dressing room. He's a great signing for us."
Wigan were almost left to rue their missed chances in the 89th minute when Leroy Lita was one-on-one with Chris Kirkland, only for the England goalkeeper to make a point-blank save that clinched the three points.
It is now back-to-back defeats for Coppell's side after opening up with their remarkable win over Middlesbrough last weekend, but the manager is demanding no snap judgements are made.
"I felt we looked capable of getting back into the match, especially with Leroy's chance at the end, but it wasn't to be," he said.
"On another day that might have gone in, but we're left with three points from three games and have to accept it.
"We might have deserved more, but we haven't got more, although it's too early to draw any conclusions after three matches."
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