Bolton Wanderers Football Club

• Nickname:Wanderers
• Founded:1874
• Manager:Dougie Freedman

• Ground:Reebok Stadium
• Capacity:28000

Misfiring Johan told to adapt

16 Apr 2009 - 13:48:27

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Bolton Wanderers boss Gary Megson has admitted that record signing Johan Elmander has not scored enough goals this season.

The 27-year-old Sweden international has found the net just five times in 25 starts for the Trotters following his £8.2million switch from Toulouse last summer.

However, despite taking Elmander off when Bolton were 4-0 down against Chelsea at the weekend, Megson said: "He needs to start chipping in with more goals.

"He knows that and he's disappointed but he does work hard and is a talented player. His game needs to adapt a little bit more to English football because it's much more physical.

"I've had quite a few one-on-one meetings with him. He's got a lot of qualities but everybody outside the football club looks at the fact he's got five goals and you do expect more from your centre-forward.

"Kevin Davies going up front against Chelsea gave us a lot more because of his strengths, and Johan has to accept that and he has to get on board.

"He's got to get through this. He's getting criticised and he didn't play particularly well on Saturday, but he'll be playing against Portsmouth and, like everybody else, he'll be judged on how he plays.

"We've looked at other centre-forwards, how much they cost and their goal ratio. Johan's got five and that's by no stretch near the bottom.

"There are a lot of players up and down the country who've cost millions more than Johan and they've got fewer goals. It's very difficult scoring double figures.

"But Johan's got a great work-rate and great movement and that contributes to the fact that Kevin Davies has scored 12 goals and Matty Taylor ten."