FLAMBOYANT Ecuadorean striker Edmundo Zura is set to become a cult figure in the Hunter.
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The Newcastle Jets will unveil Zura as their marquee player today.
Boasting seven caps for Ecuadaor, the imposing front man is synonymous in his home country for his post-goal celebrations where he puts on a blue and white World Wrestling Entertainment-inspired mask and runs around the pitch like a made man.
Jets coach Gary van Egmond is more excited by the goal-scoring potential of the 25-year-old than his theatrics.
"Mask aside, he looks a quality player," van Egmond said.
"He is a big boy, mobile, a good age and still very ambitious.
"He looks to be the missing piece of the jigsaw puzzle. Someone who can put the ball in the back of the net.
"He has represented Ecuador seven times, and most recently in a friendly this year.
"You are no mug if you are doing that."
Zura has a strike rate of a goal every two games in domestic football in Ecuador, and spent last season with Guayaquil side Barcelona SC.
Football Federation Australia have approved the Jets application for marquee status for the new boy, subject to a medical which he will undergo on Monday.
Zura travelled to Australia on a tourist visas and will need to convert it to a sporting visa before he can make his A-League debut.
"We'd love to have him for the season-opener against Central Coast," Van Egmond said.
The Zura deal comes on the back of fringe Danish national squad member Jesper Hakansson putting pen to paper on a two-year deal on Wednesday.
"We are in a much better position," van Egmond enthused.
"But it is still going to take a big effort from the whole club to win the league.
"We have a big year coming up. We have the youth league starting, the [women's] W-League and we are going into the Asian Champions League."
Zura is the fourth South American the Jets have signed following Colombian Milton Rodriguez, Argentinian Jorge Drovandi and Brazilian duo Denni and Mario Jardel, whom he replaces as the marquee.
"I know everyone in the club and Newcastle hoped that Mario would have been the real deal," van Egmond said of the former superstar, who was released mid-season after failing to make an impact.
Of the others, Rodriguez made the most impact and became a crowd favourite at EnergyAustralia Stadium.
"People love to identify with characters, especially ones who are effective on the park," van Egmond said.
"A lot of people have taken to [Korean midfielder] Song [Jin-hyung].
"Now they will see Jesper and Edmundo."
Van Egmond had little input in the recruitment of Jardel but has been instrumental in obtaining Zura.
"He came through an agent [Peter Kokotis who also delivered Cassio to Adelaide United]," van Egmond said.
"We have seen hundreds of DVDs. When we saw him we thought he had some real potential for us.
"DVDs can be misleading, but he had the credentials to back it up."
Zura's arrival has put paid to the Jets negotiations with Cameroon striker Brice Severin Bikoko, who's involvement in the club got bogged down with visa complications.
The club had also considered moving Joel Griffiths over to marquee status.
The reigning A-League player of the year and Golden Boot winner, Griffiths has a year to run on his contract.
"We had to shore up this season first. Now the focus will switch to the boys at hand," Tsatsimas said.
"What happens this year does not reflects what are intentions are for next season.
"There is still every chance that Joel will be our marquee player next season."
