sport

WIGAN SKIPPER PRAISES ZAKI

Zaki - highly-rated.

Wigan captain Mario Melchiot hailed new striker Amr Zaki after he bagged his third league goal in as many games against new boys Hull.

The Egyptian, signed on loan from El Zamalek, ran the Tigers defence ragged throughout a comprehensive 5-0 victory and Melchiot says he has made an impressive start in English football.

Zaki scored twice in the rout at the KC Stadium to add to his opening day second-half goal on his debut away at West Ham.

Zaki also found the back of the net as a second-half substitute for Emile Heskey in Wigan's second round Carling Cup victory against Notts County.

Melchiot says Zaki has produced the sort of movement and all-round display that seemed to suggest he was a Premier League veteran, and he thinks he has made the transition from Egypt to Lancashire look seemless.

Melchiot says: "The biggest surprise player that the gaffer has brought in for me is Zaki, I've been really impressed with the guy.

"It's not just the way he scores his goals but the way he plays - it's exceptional. Especially when you come out to England, it's never easy in the first couple of games.

"But he's playing the game the way he wants to. I saw him in the African Cup of Nations and I knew what kind of player he was, very opportunistic. He's a great character and he's always hungry to score a goal."

Manager Steve Bruce added to Melchiot's praise, saying Zaki was a natural goalscorer with a good appetite to succeed.