Zaki at his zenith as Wigan strike Egyptian gold

Hard-working, an exemplary attitude and a keen eye for goal: Amr Zaki seemingly has all the essential attributes to become a Premier League star.

On current form, Zaki looks to be the signing of the summer. Forget the £30m Berbatov cost or the £32.5 Manchester City forked out on Robinho, Wigan secured their Egyptian king for nothing on a season-long loan deal. Yet although they have the funds to make the deal permanent, Zaki is likely to have various offers on the table from an array of top European clubs having emerged from the shadows of Egyptian football into the limelight of the world’s richest league.

His only prior experience in the continent was during an ill-fated year with Lokomotiv Moscow, where he failed to play even once despite a £1m price tag. Otherwise, Zaki has endured a rather nondescript career, plying his trade solely in his home country with little interest shown by European sides to take a gamble on the muscular 6′1″ forward.

His record with the national side ought to have alerted more than just Wigan to Zaki’s abilities, however. In 48 starts for Egypt, the 25-year-old has scored an impressive 29 times including the winner in their 2006 African Cup of Nations semi-final against Senegal, earning him a place in the team that won the final versus Côte d’Ivoire on penalties.

He was an innocent bystander in that semi-final when Mido, now of Middlesbrough, threw a tantrum when told he was being substituted by Zaki. It was a microcosm of their respective futures, it seems: while the inconsistent and often moody Mido has always struggled in England, Zaki, who scored within a minute of coming on in that semi-final, has been an immediate hit.

Steve Bruce’s keen eye for talent ensured Wigan snared a player hungry to prove himself and has been rewarded with five goals in six matches – the best record in the Premier League.

Zaki doesn’t simply offer an effective partnership with Emile Heskey, though, as his excellent performance against Manchester City demonstrated. While Robinho pranced about the pitch like a spoiled and unhappy child, Zaki’s role could scarcely have been more contrasting. Evidently prepared for the physicality of the league and to put in the obligatory work across the pitch that frequently takes foreign imports months to learn, Zaki was constantly in the faces of the opposition, chasing stay balls, tackling competently and being a willing runner throughout.

His ongoing feud with Richard Dunne was an entertaining sideshow; Zaki’s professionalism shining through as he refused to take the bait. Instead, he continued to utterly frustrate the Republic of Ireland defender, earning numerous free-kicks and expertly turning and outpacing the veteran in the closing stages as he threatened to score a second on the break.

While fellow Egyptians such as Hossam Ghaly and Mido have endured turbulent and ultimately frustrating spells in England’s top-flight, Zaki seemingly has the perfect temperament to succeed. No arguments with the coach or discontentment at playing with a supposedly smaller team here; instead, a confident team player who refuses to seek out superfluous publicity. The coolness of his penalty that won Wigan the points yesterday firmly corresponds with the calmness of his character.

If Zaki can maintain his diligence and goal-scoring proficiency, Bruce will have pulled off the coup of the transfer window. Trouble is, bigger and richer hands will all want to grab a bit of the Egyptian come the season’s end, meaning Wigan may lose their distinguished striker. Yet Zaki will have earned his step up into the big time having served an extended apprenticeship back home. A bright future undoubtedly awaits this underrated forward.

After a summer of crazy spending and big-name signings, wouldn’t it be extremely satisfying to name a previously unknown player on loan from a mysterious Egyptian club as transfer of the season?