Emile William Ivanhoe Heskey

THREE goals this season, four last....

And yikes that last season at St Andrew's: five goals, two of which came at Albion early doors followed by relegation.

A mention of Emile Heskey's name a few weeks ago and grown men in claret and blue scarves would weep.

Even the most optimistic of Villa supporters would likely give you a lukewarm response.

But now the deal has been done I suspect most fans may even be delighted.

It would have been plain crazy for Villa to even contemplate keeping up their ridiculous momentum of two points per game with just Gabby Agbonlahor up front.

The manager had Marlon Harewood and Nathan Delfouneso to fall back on in case of injury, but neither are going to give you 90 minutes.

Harewood can give you 15 at the end of a game, Delfouneso probably a lot more but out wide on the flanks where his pace could fill a gap vacated by Ashley Young in the short term.

John Carew is getting close to a recall but after two-and-a-half months out with related back, thigh and hip problems there will be question marks over his fitness at least in the short term.

Now there's a thing: Heskey and Carew up front together. If that isn't a recipe for direct football then nothing is.

Much has been made of Villa now being a counter-attacking team and nothing else. Last year they were a "dead ball" team. Sticks and stones and all that.

Heskey doesn't get many goals. Apart from a couple of seasons at Liverpool at the start of the decade when he was somewhat prolific.

But you just had to see his performance for England in Croatia when his shoulders looked as broad as a couple of leather armchairs to see what he is capable of.

Wayne Rooney would certainly agree that Heskey is worth his weight in gold. Well, perhaps not all of his weight in gold.

That's not a dig at his 14 stone frame. I was talking more of his lack of goals.

Any team will need a natural finisher. Villa have not had a 20 goal man in the league since Peter Withe.

I think I am right in saying that only Juan Pablo Angel (16) has come close in recent years.

Imagine what Jermain Defoe could have brought to Villa. And imagine what Michael Owen could bring.

Owen is very high on the manger's wanted list although he may well have to wait until the summer.

Talk of a £150,000 wages won't deter Villa. Such sums can be watered down with a multi-million pound signing on fee to get Owen to sit commfortably within the current pay structure.

If Villa do manage to reach the top four then that structure- which currently sees Gareth Barry sitting top on approximately £50,000 a week having won a pay rise last season - will have to be reviewed in any case.

In the meantime, do not rule out a fascinating final week of the current transfer window. I certainly sense that a loan move of some substance may soon be afoot.