Wigan keep door open for Zaki deal

Amr Zaki could yet be offered a permanent deal at Wigan despite being branded “the most unprofessional player I’ve ever worked with” by manager Steve Bruce.

Zaki, currently on loan from Zamalek, had still not appeared back at Wigan on Friday, three days after he had been due back after playing for Egypt against Zambia on Sunday.

Wigan claim it is the fourth time this season that the striker has been late back from international duty and Bruce vented his frustration in a lengthy statement on Thursday in which he described himself as being “at the end of my tether”.

On Friday however, Bruce’s assistant, Eric Black, declined to rule out the club offering Zaki a permanent deal once his season-long loan expires.

Black said: “I would suggest this behaviour is not going to be beneficial to keeping him here but you never know, the manager will have to make that decision.

“In terms of others looking at the player, that will have to be up to them – they will have to make their own judgements on him but he is certainly doing himself no favours at the moment.”

Black added to Bruce’s condemnation of the 26-year-old’s conduct.

He said: “He has not appeared again this morning and it is obviously disappointing. For me it is disrespectful to your fellow players and that would hurt me more. It is disappointing but he has been dealt with by the manager in the right manner.

“He’s paid to be a professional footballer and to turn up and train and give his all for the club, and that has been put in jeopardy by his behaviour.”

Zaki was an instant hit in English football, netting nine times in 13 games to top the goalscoring charts, but he has not scored since December 28.

“You can’t take his goals away – at the start of the season he scored goals up until about October but there is a lot of time between October and now,” Black added. “Amr Zaki has not kept us in the division – it is the players in that dressing room that have done that.”

Bruce said on Thursday that he would be hitting Zaki with a heavy fine.

“I just feel it’s time that we went public on just what a nightmare he has been to deal with,” Bruce said. “I can honestly say that in all my time in football I have never worked with someone as unprofessional.

“I am right behind my players representing their countries, it is a tremendous honour for the club. This is not the issue here.

“But my South American players, for instance, have to go much longer distances but I have never had a problem with any of them.

“In Zaki’s case it really defies belief from a player who is on loan and trying to earn himself a long-term contract.

“I’m sick of answering questions about Zaki’s whereabouts and I don’t want anything to distract the players from preparing for another massive game for us on Sunday against Everton.

“Zaki’s behaviour has shown total disrespect to the club who pays him a very good wage and, equally as importantly, to the fans who sing his name from the stands. I think it’s time for them to know the truth about the man.”