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Zaki at fault for Wigan exit

Image: Zaki: Pompey link

Amr Zaki accepts he was to blame for his Wigan exit and has hintied at a return to the Premier League.

Striker accepts responsibility for Bruce fall-out

Egypt striker Amr Zaki accepts he was to blame for his Wigan exit and claims he would welcome a return to the Premier League. The 26-year-old showed promise on his arrival on-loan at Wigan in August 2008 from Zamalek, bagging 10 goals during the first half of the season. But, his relationship with then-Latics boss Steve Bruce turned sour when he started returning late from international duty. The pair eventually came to loggerheads when Zaki cut short his stay with Wigan before the summer.

Wrong

A regretful Zaki said: "Yes, I was wrong, but my mistakes were not intentional, they resulted from my trouble adapting to England. "I want to get back (to England) to prove that I am a good player, and that I have learned from my mistakes. "Maybe if I went back to England, I would finish my career there." After his promising start in England's top flight, Zaki suffered a barren spell - failing to score in 13 games before the close of the season. That spell, combined with his tardy nature, led Bruce to label the Egyptian striker as the most-unprofessional player he had ever worked with. Refusing to hold a grudge, the Egyptian striker said: "Steve Bruce is a very good coach. Despite what he said, I am proud to have worked under such a good coach."
Hint
Now back at Zamalek, Zaki has hinted at a return to the Premier League with Portsmouth. The striker claims he had personal assurances from Pompey's former owner Sulaiman Al-Fahim that a move could go ahead in January. He says he had spoken to Al-Fahim on two occasions before the former owner sold 90 per cent of his stake to Saudi Arabian property magnate Ali Al-Faraj earlier this week. "The second call he assured me that he would submit an offer to Zamalek in January," said Zaki.

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