Harewood found his chances even more limited during the 2008–09 season. He did not start a single Premier League match, and of his fourteen appearances in all competitions, eight were as a substitute. The goal against Litex Lovech was the only time he scored that season. After the arrival of Emile Heskey at Villa Park in January 2009, newspapers started speculating that his time at the club was coming to an end, with rumours of a move to Stoke, Sheffield United and Middlesbrough.