Zaki has taken the Barclays Premier League by storm after Wigan manager Steve Bruce proved patience is a virtue.

Bruce spent months negotiating a deal for the Egypt international, who has scored five goals in as many matches since agreeing a season-long loan deal from Zamalek.

Whelan concedes to being stunned when he heard of Bruce's interest in Zaki, but has since been bowled over by the 25-year-old who reminds him of former England and Newcastle United star Shearer.

exactly the same

"When you look at this lad and his build, he is the same height, weight, everything about him, he is like Alan Shearer," insisted Whelan. "He has the same confidence when he gets the ball, he knows where the goal is, he doesn't need to look up, he has this instinct.

"Strikers like that have an instinct as to where the goal is. You can't describe it, you can't give it to anybody. Certain people have it and Alan Shearer was one who had it in abundance, and this lad is exactly the same. He has this ability to score goals. Sometimes there is no danger, but then, wham, and the ball is in the back of the net."