Borussia Dortmund striker Mohamed Zidan has finally hit top gear after an inconsistent start to his Bundesliga campaign, coach Jurgen Klopp said on Thursday. "Zidan is now the player I know, the player I wished to have at Dortmund," Klopp was quoted as saying by German newspaper Der Westen. The Egypt striker was nowhere near his best in the early stage of the season. He was blighted by some personal problems. Zidan suffered a dip in form after breaking off his engagement to Egyptian actress Mai Ezz El-Din and his distress prompted him to skip Egypt's friendly game against Guinea in August. His failure to explain his decision not to show up for international duty, which Zidan said later it was down to his anguish, resulted in his exclusion from Egypt's squad for two World Cup qualifiers away to Rwanda and Zambia. He was equally disappointing on the club level, scoring just one Bundesliga goal against Eintracht Frankfurt.
Zidan set for Egypt return Things have become much better for the 27-year-old now. He was granted a reprieve by Egypt coach Hassan Shehata and forged a fine partnership with Dortmund's Argentinean striker Lucas Barrios, although he is yet to add to his goal tally. "Zidan is enjoying his most consistent spell since joining," Klopp, who also coached Zidan at Mainz in 2006 and 2007, added. The speedy striker joined Dortmund from Hamburg last summer and made a fine impact in his fist season with the six-time German champions, notching seven goals. He is likely to earn an Egypt call up for the crunch World Cup qualifier at home to Algeria next month that will determine whether the Pharaohs will end their jinx and reach the football's most prestigious event for the first time since 1990.
