With a strike rate of one goal every 4.6 games in English football in his time with Leicester City, Liverpool, Birmingham, Wigan and Aston Villa, Heskey's main strength has always been seen as his ability to hold up the ball and create opportunities for his teammates.
But the Jets look to be getting the best of both worlds out of their new signing.
Coach Gary van Egmond tipped before the season Heskey could surprise a few people in front of goal and he is rapt with the striker's return.
However he's most excited about the way Heskey is allowing others - the likes of Ryan Griffiths and young guns Craig Goodwin and James Virgili - to shine.
"We have a lot of really really good lieutenants but he's the one who we need as the person who really leads that line," van Egmond said.
"With that amount of confidence and time that other players are getting, and the fact they're able to do better things with the ball, is a lot to do with what Emile does with the ball.
"He might not have as many touches as some players but his positioning and the way he attracts certain players, the other players are really benefiting from that."
Heskey's form has coincided with a superb start for the Jets with their third successive win ensuring their best start to an A-League campaign.
Van Egmond still believes his team needs plenty of improvement but admitted it was a dream start.
"We were always very confident with the work that we've done in the off-season, " he said.
"But if you would have asked me at the beginning of the year, would you take three out of four, I definitely would have taken it."
AAP lf/sj
-AAP
