The 25-year-old's starting place for both club and country has been placed in jeopardy by the emergence of young talents such as Milan Baros and Wayne Rooney in recent months, but Rush still feels that Heskey deserves to start alongside Owen for the forseeable future.
Rush said: "As a foil for Owen, I have not seen anyone better out there than Heskey. Owen recognises the contribution Heskey makes both for Liverpool and England. They know each other's strengths."
"I was really pleased when Emile got his goal in Durban. He is a good lad and a strong character.
"For me, his Liverpool place is not in doubt, but in the England setup, Wayne Rooney is starting to come through. England's two matches next month are the perfect opportunity for Heskey to prove his worth to the national team."