Megson looks to Elmander

24 August 2009 17:52
Bolton boss Gary Megson is looking to Johan Elmander to start filling the gap left by Nicholas Anelka. Having suffered defeats in both their opening Premier League games, the Trotters look to kick start their season against Tranmere in the second round of the Carling Cup on Tuesday. Elmander, who featured in the aforementioned League defeats to Sunderland and Hull, has found the net just five times since his record transfer from Toulouse last summer. That's a far cry from his predecessor who scored an impressive 21 goals in 53 league appearances before leaving for Chelsea in January last year. Keen to get his side back to winning ways, Megson says he expects Elmander to come good over the coming weeks. Reacting to comments regarding the club's lack of attacking options, he said: "We haven't got the resources that some other clubs have got and that's why we couldn't hang on to Nicolas Anelka, never mind going to get another one. "But we have got Johan Elmander, a lot of resources were put in on him. "I said before Saturday that I don't want to put undue pressure on him, but he's got to start scoring goals - that's what he's here for. "I don't think there can be any more pressure on him, because everybody from the outside is starting to look at the fact that he's doing a lot of good things, but he isn't getting goals. "He's got to start stepping up to the plate - (that feeling) is happening from the inside too. Pressure exists in every walk of life." Megson admitted a lack of fire-power could seriously hinder the club's chances of securing silverware this term. "We had the best finisher in the country in my view in Nicolas Anelka 18 months ago," Megson added. "When he was here, the fact that he was the finisher that he is just completely transformed the football club. I feel that's what we need now. "Whether that person exists here and isn't doing it yet or we need to bring someone in remains to be seen." He continued: "Kevin Davies scored 12 last year, but he hasn't scored this year yet and he's got to do it. Matthew Taylor too - goals have got to come from midfield. "We're in a position where everybody realises that Saturday (against Hull) was a really good performance from ourselves, every stat we're up on. "But we've lost, and what we've got to do is try to replicate that each and every time we play, and the stat we have to improve on is with the amount of chances we're having on goal, we have to start registering."

Source: SKY_Sports