Mellberg: Elmander will come good

Elmander has struggled to live up to his £10million price tag since joining the Premier League strugglers from Toulouse in 2008.The 28-year-old striker has scored only one league goal this term for a team that are just two points above the relegation zone.However, he remains highly regarded in his homeland and veteran Mellberg believes new Trotters boss Owen Coyle should persist with him."I haven't seen too much of Bolton to have a great opinion but I know Johan as a player," said Mellberg, 32."Bolton have struggled in the Premier League - it is really tough - and it is a big change to come from where he came from and was able to dominate."But he is very hard-working and a good striker. I am sure he will do very well in the future."Mellberg left Villa for Juventus two years ago and has since moved on to Olympiacos.He was an outstanding performer over seven years for the midlands club and he remembers his career in England with great fondness."The Premier League for me is the strongest in the world," he said. "To have played in it when it was so strong was great."I do miss it but I was very fortunate to get seven good years there."Mellberg is poised to win his 100th cap for Sweden in Wednesday's international friendly against Wales in Swansea.He is facing a quiet summer after Sweden failed to qualify for the World Cup in South Africa but he remains optimistic about the future under new coach Erik Hamren."I will see tomorrow if I am playing but it has been a great adventure so far," Mellberg."It will feel a bit different for me this year and those who have been involved in five successive championships but we now have the time now to rebuild with a new manager."It will feel strange not to be at the World Cup but hopefully we can use this in a good way and use that for the qualifiers."Hamren took charge last November but cannot take up the post full-time until his contract with Rosenborg expires in August.At present, Sweden need to compensate the Norwegian club for every day of Hamren's services they use.Despite that complicated arrangement, Hamren is excited about the task ahead.The former Sweden international said: "It is a pity not to be at the World Cup but there are bigger countries than Sweden who have not qualified in the past."Sweden have been really good qualifying but it is tough to do it."We now have a new generation, a lot of young players coming through. We are starting to build a new team."

Source: Team_Talk