By Chris Wright

Despite the fact that he hasn’t actually arrived in New South Wales yet (he’s due to touch down on Friday), A-League side Newcastle United Jets have already sold out of Emile Heskey replica shirts, with an order already placed for 5,000 more to sastify demand.

For the first time in his career, the man’s a draw! (We wonder if 5,000+ Heskey replica shirts have been sold in sum total during his 18 year-career in England? Anyone out there actually own one?)

Speaking to the Aussie media, Heskey himself has admitted that Alessandro Del Piero’s decision to move to the A-League with Sydney FC helped convince him that a similar jaunt to Australia was worth his while, telling Fox Sports:

“Obviously I saw when [Del Piero] signed and the impact that he had and how important it was for the league and how important it was for the club.

“So, yeah, seeing that and putting yourself up against someone like that and enjoying yourself in a new country all played a part.”

Heskey and Del Piero: Two peas in an over-stuffed pod. As well as rinsing the club shop of their shirts, Heskey’s signing has also seen the Jets’ supporters club swell by almost 1,000 new members in the week following the announcement of his move.

Who’d have thought, eh?

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