It is not so common to see four high-profile players from the same country languishing without a club at the very same time.

Is it a generation of footballers on the wane, is it a mere coincidence or is it just a stumble in the path of a bunch of talented men once hailed as Egypt’s finest.

Case one: Mido

Mido – arguably one of Egypt’s most successful footballers ever to play in Europe – has turned into a football analyst before his 30th birthday.

The once-Tottenham ace is analyzing English Premier League matches rather than playing and has struggled to keep his contract at Barnsley, six years after being linked with Manchester United.

Is it a horrific injury? No, it is just overweight…ever heard of a superstar quitting the game at an ideal age just because he cannot lose weight?!

No need for criticism here. Case closed…but the question remains, what next for Mido?

Is it the Italian Serie A like his agent claims – “Mido has the qualities to play for any Serie A team” – or will he jump onto the pitch rather than watching Premier League games from studios?

Or maybe it is a dream return to Egypt’s fold at the World Cup (his agent also!)

Prediction: Mido will announce his retirement in a few weeks.

Case two: The Bulldozer

After reaching double figures in England and once being linked with Real Madrid and Liverpool, the Zak is now without a club.

Why? Skipping the infamous Wigan story and the recurring injury setbacks, let’s see how Amr Zaki had taken his chances during the past few years.

He was a star at Zamalek…but then he wanted to leave, got his wish and had a great chance to return to Europe with a Turkish Super Lig side…a few months before asking to be released!

No problem…he received another lifeline from old club ENPPI…but no.

They made a ‘not-so-high’ contract offer (for a player who spent most of the past four years injured), so he turned the ‘unsuitable’ contract down and decided to stay at home instead…seemingly this will earn him more money!

So, given his buzzing time with different clubs throughout the past four or five years, will the Bulldozer make his comeback and spearhead Egypt at the 2014 World Cup?

Prediction: Zaki will join a mid-table Egyptian league club, score on his debut and then asks to be transfer-listed a few months later.

Case three: Zidan

A player who spent +10 years in Europe is embroiled in a controversial dispute with his Emirate club over whether he is injured or is he just faking it…what a subject!

Regardless of which of the two parties have the right and without highlighting the futility of the topic, the outcome is one: Mohamed Zidan has been shown the door by Bani Yas only one season after winning the Bundesliga.

One incident springs to mind here and the quote is for former Egypt coach Hassan Shehata ahead of a friendly match against Guinea in 2009…

"It is the third time that Zidan skips an international game without permission. I was also angered to see him play for his club, which means he isn’t injured," Shehata said.

Another Zidan antic came under Bob Bradley when he outrageously asked to leave the Egypt squad ahead of crucial qualifier in Central African Republic to look for a new club…’’the pitch was so poor, Egypt had no hope of winning the game and I had to look for a new club.”

Now he has lost his place with the national team and is ironically without a club!

So no offence Zizo, your history suggests that maybe Bani Yas do have a point here.

Prediction: Zidan may have another Gulf spell where he would hopefully prove he had learned from his mistakes, but is unlikely to wear the Egypt shirt again.

Case four: Shika

Since he is still 27, Shikabala has the time - and certainly the quality - to redeem himself and regain his status as one of Egypt’s most hottest talents…but only under one condition.

The midfield wizard must be wary enough to learn from the above cases and be sure that his flamboyant left foot is not enough to make him a star.

A fine spell at UAE’s Al-Wasl came to an abrupt end after another off-the-pitch issue (late arrival again) which fortified his trouble-maker reputation and joined the list of Egyptian antics abroad.

Now Shika’s future is relatively clear as he knows he will return to parent club Zamalek, but is being ‘Zamalek talisman’ the best he can do?

Prediction: Shikabala will be back to square one and star for Zamalek, will hopefully score his first competitive goal for Egypt but maybe his ‘Europe dream’ is as good as over.