Instant hit Zaki thrills Bruce

Wigan boss delighted by Egyptian striker's start

Last updated: 4th September 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Instant hit Zaki thrills Bruce

Zaki: Immediate impact

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Wigan manager Steve Bruce is thrilled that new striker Amr Zaki has become an instant hit in the Premier League.

The 25-year-old caught the eye of Bruce playing for Egypt, for whom he has scored 29 goals in 48 international appearances.

And Bruce is delighted with the speed in which he has managed to translate that form to England's top flight, scoring three goals in his opening three league games for the Latics.

Wigan's next game after the international break is at home to Sunderland and Bruce is hoping Zaki can continue his remarkable start after bagging a brace in last week's 5-0 win at Hull.

Handful

"When I saw him play for Egypt he was a handful and I asked myself then whether he could do that in the Premier League," he told the Manchester Evening News.

"So far the answer is yes, although we are only three games into it so we are not going to shout from the rooftops just yet.

"But credit to the lad, he's been given his chance and has done well. He took his goals very well at Hull last weekend.

"Of the three league games so far, that was arguably the worst we have played. That might sound stupid with a 5-0 scoreline. It was, yet it's proven in the Premier League that the team who takes the lead often goes on to win."