Wigan boss Steve Bruce is ready to hand Amr Zaki his first Latics start in two months against Bolton on Saturday. The frontman recently incurred Bruce's anger after going AWOL while away on international duty, but the Wigan boss has limited options up front.

"For what he has done, if I had six centre-forwards I would probably go down a different avenue," Bruce said in the Wigan Evening Post.

"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's early season form, in which the Egyptian international notched 10 in 16 outings, suggests he is capable of providing a cutting edge, but he is currently in the middle of a drought which stretches back to 28th December.

"If we have an Achilles heel, it is obviously we don't score enough goals," added Bruce.

"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.

"The statistics are there for all to see. Seven goals since the start of 2009 is not enough.

"When you consider Zaki has not scored for a few months then of course it's a problem but I am not going to just put the finger on him.

"It is a thing for all the team, not just the lads up front. It is for the midfield players and the back players, they have all got to chip in a little bit."