CAIRO: Wigan Athletic newcomer Mido believes he s capable of filling the void left by the departure of veteran hitman Emile Heskey, who has joined Aston Villa this winter.
Former Zamalek forward Mido has been loaned out to the Latics last week after failing to secure a regular spot at Middlesbrough.
The Egyptian international hailed Heskey as one of the most impressive strikers in the Premier League, and gave himself some credit by pointing out to the similarity between him and the former Liverpool star.
He is top class. He is the best target man in England, Mido told Sky Sports News I think my game is in a way similar to his as a target man. All I can say is I will try my best.
Mido will wear the number nine jersey, which Heskey used to put on at the JJB Stadium.
Although he hasn t made his Wigan debut yet, Mido revealed his intention of extending his stay with Steve Bruce s men.
I want to work very hard until the end of the season. I want to make this permanent in the summer, said the towering striker.
The 25-year-old reaffirmed that he didn t hesitate to join Wigan from Boro, who signed him for £6 million in 2007 from Tottenham Hotspur.
It was an easy decision. I needed to be somewhere, where I could play football, he added.
I needed to work with someone like Steve Bruce. I think I made the right choice. He knows exactly what I want and I know exactly what he wants.
I want to play football and I am desperate to do well. So far it has been brilliant, the sessions have been sharp.
Mido reiterated that the reason why he couldn t settle down at the Riverside is that he wasn t playing regularly.
I have no regrets you just make decisions in football. Middlesbrough are a good club, I have got a lot of friends there but I just need to play football, he explained.
I was a little bit unlucky at Middlesbrough with injuries but people forget that the truth is I played 32 games and scored seven goals that s not a bad percentage.
The former Roma marksman is widely expected to make his Wigan first appearance on Wednesday against Liverpool in the Premiership, and form a strike partnership with compatriot Amr Zaki.
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez said Wigan Athletic duo Amr Zaki and Mido could cause real problems for Premier League teams when they play together upfront.
Benitez, whose Liverpool side face Wigan on Wednesday night, expects that the duo will form a potent partnership.
The understanding between them will be good and that will make them more dangerous for all the teams, the Spanish coach told Liverpool s official website.
Zaki was the best player at Anfield and he is dangerous, Liverpool s Slovakian defender Martin Skrtel said.
