Dzeko faces idol Andriy

Edin Dzeko tonight aims to get the better of a player he admires above all others and help steer Manchester City towards the quarter–finals of the Europa League.

The Bosnian striker is looking forward to pitting his wits against 34–year–old Andriy Shevchenko, who is now back at his first club Dynamo Kiev.

While Shevchenko made a name for himself in Italy with AC Milan, he failed to replicate his excellent form at Chelsea, scoring just nine goals in 47 appearances.

But that has not diminished him in Dzeko's eyes as a player of top quality. The former Wolfsburg striker, however, is aiming to have better luck in England.

Dzeko said: "Shevchenko was always my favourite player. He was my idol. I met him a few years ago when Wolfsburg played Milan and we exchanged shirts.

"He was a fantastic player, he had some tough times in England but that's football.

"England is very different from other leagues and I'll have to get used to it. Hopefully I'll have a lot of success."

Dzeko's only goals since arriving in the January transfer window have come in cup competitions, not the Barclays Premier League.

And he could return to the team in the last–16 first leg meeting after having to settle for a place on the bench in the victory against Wigan at the weekend.