ZIGIC’S GIANT CHANCE TO MAKE AMENDS
THE return of Nikola Zigic to Birmingham City must surely prompt mixed feeling from the St Andrews faithful.
On the one hand, this is a bloke whose £60,000-a-week wages crippled the club for the best part of three years. Zigic cannot be blamed for accepting that kind of bonanza, nor for staying put – but it would be hard for anyone to argue his effort or output justified his salary.
Back in 2013, Lee Clark even dropped him from the squad, accusing him of putting in the “worst training session I have ever come across”. Then again, this is a bloke who, on his day, is completely unplayable; a 6ft 8ins monster who scores big goals in big games and was instrumental in the Blues’ final-day escape last season.
Unburdened of his gigantic salary (reports suggest he is now on £5,000-a-week) and the scrutiny it brought, maybe we will at last see the Serbian play with a freedom he was never afforded before.
It will take a bit more protection from referees – Zigic can barely move without somebody grabbing a handful of shirt – and a bit more aggression from the man himself, but he is undoubtedly a threat.
For the 34-year-old former Red Star Belgrade, Racing Santander and Valencia striker, it is a chance to start repaying a monstrous debt and be remembered not for his wages but for his talent.