Bolton Wanderers-Wigan Athletic FC Preview

Apr 30, 2009 - 4:19 PM GEOFF McALLISTER STATS European Football Writer=

LONDON (SE) - Steve Bruce is ready to end his feud with Wigan striker Amir Zaki by recalling the Egyptian for Saturday's Lancashire derby at home to Bolton.

Manager Bruce branded Zaki 'the most unprofessional player I have ever worked with' after he was late reporting back from last month's international break.

Bruce will be forced to make peace with the troubled front-man after seeing Wigan's Europa Cup hopes rocked by a spate of injuries.

Former Manchester United defender Bruce said: "For what he has done, if I had six centre-forwards I would probably go down a different avenue, but the one thing I won't do is leave the team short.

"The team is the most important thing for me ? and obviously the club. So if I have to use him I will use him. After all we are paying him ? when he is here!"

Zaki has scored 11 goals for Wigan since joining on loan from Egyptian side Zamalek but has not hit the target since scoring against Bolton at the Reebok Stadium in December.

That goal drought has coincided with Wigan scoring just seven times since the turn of the year.

Bruce added: "If we have an Achilles heel, it is obviously we don't score enough goals. It's not just down to the strikers. It's down to everyone.

"But everyone says the hardest thing in the Premier League is scoring goals. Even the top teams are finding that."

Bolton manager Gary Megson believes his side need one more victory to secure their Premier League status.

The Trotters are seven points clear of the bottom three with four games to go after holding Aston Villa to a 1-1 draw last weekend.

Megson wants his side to focus on looking up the table rather than anxiously over their shoulders.

He said: "We are getting there. We would prefer to get there in a different manner.

"We would like to be winning games and pushing on towards the top of the table.

"The points last week against Aston Villa was a good point, given the situation at both clubs.

"That result coupled with the other results at the bottom means that every week that goes by and we gain a positive result is one less game that we can be caught.

"If we can go to Wigan and get a good result and win the game we will give ourselves a great chance of staying up."

Andy O'Brien is backing central defensive partner Gary Cahill to force his way into Fabio Capello's England plans.

Cahill was on the verge of a call-up for the last round of World Cup qualifiers after a string of fine performances for Bolton.

Republic of Ireland international O'Brien said: "It's only onwards and upwards for him and the club.

"Physically he has got great presence, he's good in the air and, although I might be a bit biased, of all the young centre halves in England, he's definitely the best.

"All he has got to do is continue doing what he is doing."