Congolese striker Zola signed for Rovers from Newcastle United at the age of 18 in the summer of 2004 after having spent the previous season on loan at Oldham Athletic.

Zola scored four goals in the opening part of the 2004-05 season but his first team chances took a blow when the Home Office banned him from playing due to him no longer having a work permit.

The absence of Zola prompted Total Tranmere to set up an online petition to help Zola return to action but by the time the problem was all sorted the season was over and Zola would have to wait for his chance.

At the start of the following season an injury in the first game put him out for six weeks and when he returned in October he scored a further three goals.

In 2006-07, Zola had limited first team appearances until late on in the season, again partly due to injury but in the end he did manage to net 5 goals in 15 appearances.  This season he faces fresh competition for places from youngster Craig Curran as well as Chris Greenacre and Gareth Taylor.

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