Bruce - No Zaki grudge

30 April 2009 17:21
Steve Bruce has admitted that Amr Zaki was affected by the hype surrounding his early-season performances. The Egyptian forward made a stunning start to his Premier league career after arriving on loan from El Zamalek last summer, scoring ten goals in 16 league matches. Speculation surfaced suggesting that many of Europe's top clubs were tracking Zaki's progress and Bruce does not believe he has recovered. The 26-year-old has not scored since December and his relationship with his manager has not been helped by him repeatedly returning late from international duty. However, Bruce is happy to keep showing faith in Zaki and is likely to select him from the start against Bolton on Saturday. "Our relationship is okay. The one thing I don't do in management is bear a grudge," said Bruce. "But I am upset and disappointed with his behaviour and what happened because it does have a big effect on the dressing room. "We haven't got umpteen forwards and I know what I would like to do with his behaviour - but it has not been possible so he is in the squad. "At the end of the day he has not scored in open play since October, when he scored twice against Liverpool. "Then he is supposed to be going to every club in Europe - Real Madrid at one stage - and I think the whole thing turned into a circus and it affected him. "He has not been the same since. If he had kept his head down, kept working away and been the player he was at the start of the year, rather than being what he was at the moment, then everything would be hunky dory. "I can't leave him out of the squad because we haven't got enough players." Zaki's loan expires at the end of the season and Bruce admits he has yet to discuss the situation with the player. He explained: "It hasn't been brought up at all. That would be disrespectful to Zamalek, the club that does own him. "We have a month of the season to go and we'll see what happens."

Source: SKY_Sports