Emile Heskey was notoriously difficult to play against. Standing at six feet, two inches tall, he was all muscle, strength, and relentless spirit. But imagine facing not just one, but two players with his attributes. Meet his sons, Heskey 2.0.

Jaden, who is 19, and his younger brother Reigan, 17, both are a part of Manchester City’s U21 squad. There is a chance we might see them don the England jersey someday, though not as striking partners—that would be quite overwhelming.

‘They remind me of myself,’ Heskey shared with Daily Mail Sport. ‘Both are very athletic. The younger one is exceptionally fast, while the older one resembles my strength on the field. They share similar qualities.’

Since hanging up his boots in 2016, the former England player has stayed active with various legends’ matches, broadcasting roles, and his favorite—football camps for kids, nurturing the next generation’s talent.

We caught up with Heskey shortly after he volunteered at a Kellogg’s Football Camp in Wigan. This initiative, in collaboration with the EFL, is offering free sign-ups across 150 UK locations for children aged five to 15 until August 30th. There, he freely imparts advice, though with his sons, he takes a different approach.

‘I prefer to step back with them,’ he explains. ‘My role is more about just being a supportive parent, ensuring they have what they need and are punctual. They’re in one of the finest academies.’

‘I don’t want to confuse them. Half the time, you don’t know what the manager has actually said to them, especially when it comes to that level of detail. So if I say something totally different, you’ve got a confused player.

‘One [Jaden] is a midfielder and one [Reigan] is a winger. The youngest one can play up front but he loves the wing. You can see them on the same pitch but not a partnership [for Man City or England].’

It’s not as far-fetched as you might think. Last summer, Jaden, a No 10, joined City on their pre-season tour of the United States and came off the bench against Barcelona. Having joined the Sky Blues at the age of eight, he has progressed through the ranks to captain the under-18s, win the FA Youth Cup with a goal in the final, and play in the Premier League 2 division.

Championship club Sheffield Wednesday have reportedly been eager to take him on loan this summer.

Reigan, the winger, is a couple of years younger but catching the eye even more. In December, he came off the bench in PL2 and scored a second-half hat-trick against Norwich.

He managed 27 goals in all competitions last campaign, was awarded under-18s player of the season, and is already off the mark in the PL2 this time round.

Five sets of brothers have worn the City shirt, most notably Kolo and Yaya Toure and Shaun and Bradley Wright-Phillips. But the Heskey brothers have picked a narrow path. City are not exactly known for keeping hold of their talent – Cole Palmer, Jeremie Frimpong, and Romeo Lavia have all left and ended up at other ‘Big Six’ clubs in recent years.

Any chance to bully his sons in a kickabout?

Heskey laughs. ‘I went on a run with them once and that told me I shouldn’t be messing with them anymore! I think I got through a quarter of the run and said, “I can’t do this.”

‘They’re too young and too quick. I’ve got to stay in my own lane with the over-40s!’

Perhaps Heskey is being humble. The legs may have left him, but the striker’s instinct was always natural. Across his career he bagged 171 goals, a very respectable haul. Liverpool fans of a certain vintage will fondly remember the 2000-01 season, where Heskey scored 22 times en route to lifting a ‘treble’ of sorts – the FA Cup, Football League Cup, and UEFA Cup.

His partner in crime that year was Michael Owen, who he had known since the under-18s with England. From 2000 to 2004, they played together 185 times for Liverpool and both agree their partnership was almost telepathic. The dominating, selfless Heskey was the perfect foil for Owen’s zippy legs.

It’s fun to look back on those days, but Heskey hopefully has an upcoming era of watching his mini-me duo in action. He isn’t the only former Premier League star with skin in the game, either.

Wayne Rooney (Kai, 15, Manchester United), Rio Ferdinand (Lorenz, 19, Brighton), Darren Fletcher (Jack and Tyler, both 18 at Man United), Ryan Giggs (Zach, 18, Sheffield United), and Jason Koumas (Lewis Koumas, 19, Liverpool) all have teenage lads hoping to burst onto the scene and forge their own path.

So, is there a fraternity of footballing dads? A WhatsApp group of Premier League icons masterminding a new Golden Era, or jostling to convince each other that their son is best? A hyper-elite version of bragging at the school gates, bickering about goals rather than grades?

Not quite.

‘No, we only talk when we see each other,’ says Heskey. ‘They do play against each other, though.

‘Fletcher’s boys were between my boys at Man City so I got to see them quite a bit.

‘We just wish them all the best. We know the journey that it took to get to where we got and hopefully they can continue it.

‘But they’ve got to a certain stage and it’s their career, not mine. They can’t look at mine and compare it. It’s up to them what they do.’

Heskey has proved his passion for bringing on young talents. He was formerly the head of women’s football development at Leicester City Women, working in coaching and recruitment.

He has left that position and now spends more time watching his sons and working on various camps. Earlier this summer he was soaking up the sun at one in Rhodes.

‘Getting involved in something like that is crucial,’ he explains. ‘Having come from grassroots football to get to where I was, I know the importance of it. The Kellogg’s ones are wonderful entry points for young kids – and they give the parents a break!’

As for specifics, though, Heskey isn’t sure what’s next for him personally. A decade removed from his playing career, the sport is so ingrained in his blood that he still reverts to a stock post-match interview phrase when asked. ‘You can hardly see past the next game.’

A free football camp place could be hiding in your cupboard – To secure a spot at an upcoming camp, parents simply need to use the on-pack QR code from a promotional box of Kellogg’s cereal to sign up at www.kelloggsfc.com. T&C’s apply.