Mido offers Zaki defence

13 April 2009 11:06
Mido has urged Wigan Athletic supporters to get behind Amr Zaki, insisting his fellow Egyptian is a 'great lad'. Zaki has been fined by the Latics after his late return to the club from international duty and his future at the JJB Stadium is uncertain. The on-loan striker has been involved in several incidents this season and Wigan boss Steve Bruce has been critical of the player's attitude. However, Mido has offered his backing to his compatriot and hopes Zaki will be offered a permanent contract by the Latics. "I spoke to the lads with Zaki when he came back, he apologised to the team and they accepted it," Mido told the Wigan Evening Post. "What people don't know is that Zaki is a great lad, a very good man. He just doesn't know how the system works here, it will take him time to know that. "Zaki is someone I've known years, he's a good boy with a big heart. It's his job now to show he wants to do even better for us. "We really need him, he is a strong lad who has scored a lot of goals for the club, we need him to finish the season well. "I hope he stays at Wigan next season, I don't want people to 'kill' him. "I understand where the gaffer was coming from when he went to the media about Zaki because it was the fourth time he'd been late. But my message is please don't kill the lad. "In Egypt it's a totally different system, so he has to get used to how things are done over here. "I want it to happen for him here, I want to help him because I have more experience in the Premier League and with English people. I know what the mentality is."

Source: SKY_Sports