Emile Heskey has warned Mateo Joseph not to “win too much” with Leeds United this season because he wants Leicester to be promoted, the Whites striker has confessed.
In an interview with The Times on April 12, the Elland Road youngster, whose father is the former Foxes forward’s cousin, spoke of his football development in Spain as a child before being signed by former sporting director Victor Orta.
The 20-year-old, who scored his first goals for the club in the 3-2 FA Cup defeat at Chelsea on 28 February and then rescued a point with a late equaliser at Watford a month later, says he has been working in the gym to improve his strength as he aims to get more involved under Daniel Farke, but amid a heated Championship promotion battle admits Heskey, who came through at the then-Walkers Stadium and is now the head of football development for Leicester’s women’s team.
Joseph stated of the former England striker, “He is my father’s cousin.” It’s a fantastic thing to have such a talented player in the family. I didn’t see him often as a child because I grew up in Spain.
“I speak to him, not too much, but when I play or something, he texts me and the other day he said, ‘Good luck, but don’t win too much because Leicester has to go up too!'”
Leeds United are linked to former Liverpool player Emile Heskey.
Clearly, Joseph will have refused that request, as Heskey would expect, but despite both clubs’ outstanding performances this season, neither is guaranteed to return to the Premier League.
Whites fans may be concerned about their team’s recent form slump, which has seen Daniel Farke’s side lose both of their previous two games and three of their last four.
However, Enzo Maresca’s men have gone off a cliff in recent weeks following their brilliant first half of the season, with Friday night’s 1-0 setback at Plymouth making it six defeats and a tie in their last ten games.
Despite this, they lead the standings by a goal differential from second-placed Ipswich going into the weekend’s fixtures, with Leeds United a point behind both.
While Southampton sit nine points behind the Whites, they have two games in hand and may have a chance of finishing in the top two, so the tight race at the top will not allow for family allegiances to rivals.
Joseph’s growth this season has been outstanding, and while he has had to overcome Joel Piroe and Patrick Bamford, he has shown enough to suggest he could become a first-team regular soon.
He has already eclipsed Joe Gelhardt in the pecking order, leaving former under-21 striker Sonny Perkins behind.
And, after saving a crucial point at Vicarage Road with his first league goal for the club, there is every potential he will continue to play an important role in the title battle.
