Zaki worth the risk

Two strikers, please. Two proper, goalhanging, worthy, reputable strikers.

Have we actually got them? The best finisher on Hull City's books has been away at the Africa Cup of Nations and doesn't get on with Phil Brown anyway. Daniel Cousin does, however, look to be running out of time to find the new club both he and the Tigers seem to crave, so perhaps if we're to continue giving him a buxom salary until the summer we should use his talents.

Beyond that, it's the same story that we've been telling for weeks. Jozy Altidore looks like he might score but doesn't, Craig Fagan looks like he could win any match if it was measured on workrate but is plain dire in front of goal, and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink's finishing skill is set aside by the immobility he brings to the forward line when playing any more than the last 20 minutes. Caleb Folan epitomises the strong lower league player who is painfully out of his depth.

But now there is Amr Zaki. Quick, strong, enthusiastic and extremely able when it comes to hitting the target.

Brown says he is not fit to start yet, although he has been worked hard this week and looks sufficiently active to take a place on the bench. So just how long on the pitch could he do if asked to play an active part?

If it's 45 minutes, then it can't be the greatest risk in the world to start him. If it works and Zaki produces the goals expected of him, then the Tigers could be in a strong, even winning position against Wolverhampton Wanderers with still a half to go.

One hopes that Zaki, when fully fit, is the man. It will look careless and wasteful if the Tigers end up with six centre forwards who can't do the primary job required of a centre forward. If Zaki can run andthe risk is no more than calculated, then Brown should grasp the nettle and give the Egyptian his shirt right away. If he's fit to finish the game, then he's fit to start it.