Heskey happy with Zaki

Promising partnership blooms despite language barrier

By Chris Burton   Last updated: 29th September 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Heskey happy with Zaki

Zaki & Heskey: Formidable strike force

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Emile Heskey believes his fledgling strike partnership with Amr Zaki is beginning to blossom.

The powerful duo have helped Wigan climb into the top half of the Premier League table, causing countless problems to opposition defences along the way.

Egyptian ace Zaki currently leads the top flight scoring charts, with five goals in as many games, while Heskey's displays have consolidated his place back in the England set-up under Fabio Capello.

With neither man able to speak the native language of the other, communication on the field could represent a problem.

Brilliant

Heskey, though, insists that is not the case as the pair have formed an almost 'telepathic' understanding based on sharp football brains rather than spoken words.

"When you are playing football it is more than talking, it is telepathic," the Latics ace told Sky Sports.

"Communication is difficult when you try to explain some stuff but he has done brilliantly since he came here, scoring five league goals."

Zaki was on target from the penalty spot during the 2-1 win over Manchester City on Sunday, helping the Latics secure their first home success of the season.

Deserved

Heskey admits the result came as a relief to everyone as it helped the club pull away from the dog-fight which is brewing at the foot of the table.

"It is massive for us. We looked at table this morning and we were staring at the relegation zone, although it is early in the season," he added.

"You always want to pull away. Everyone around us was winning or drawing games.

"We stuck in there and got three points we deserved

"Towards the end of last season this (JJB Stadium) is where we picked up most of our points."