Dowie ends Zaki's loan spell

(GETTY IMAGES)

Egypt striker Amr Zaki has played his last game for Hull after boss Iain Dowie opted to send him back to parent club El Zamalek.

The 27-year-old, who spent last season on loan at Wigan, joined the Tigers in January in a deal until the end of the season.

But he failed to score in six appearances before picking up a knee injury at the start of last month.

Dowie told Press Association Sport: "It's over. He was injured in preparation for the first game I had and since then he hasn't been fit.

"I had a look at him in training the other day and I didn't think he was going to be anywhere near the level we'd expect in terms of fitness so I just said it was right for him to go home."

"He won't be playing for us for the rest of the season."

Zaki made a big impression on his arrival at Wigan last season, scoring five goals in his first five games, but he angered then manager Steve Bruce by consistently returning late from international duty and his last Premier League goal came in December 2008.