Elmander given warning from Megson

Gary Megson has told record signing Johan Elmander that he must toughen up both mentally and physically if he is to succeed in the Premier League.

The Trotters boss had previously called for the striker to score more goals but the former West Brom boss admitted that some home truths were said after the front man produced another ineffective first-half display at Tranmere, in the Carling Cup on Tuesday.

The Sweden international, who was signed for £10million last summer, has failed to find the net in his last 21 games for the club, with his last strike coming against Aston Villa on 13th December.

Elmander’s barren run in front of goal has caused some supporters to turn their backs on the 28-year-old but Megson is confident the player has the ability to win them over.

“Johan and myself are intrinsically linked and I’ve told him that,” he said.

“At half-time last night there were a few strong words and he has to step up to the plate but he looked much more like it yesterday.

“He got hold of it and must have had three or four opportunities at goal – although I must say he is not the luckiest player in the world.

“His header from six yards, the goalkeeper just threw his arm up in the air and it went over and his shot went around the post but he has to keep plugging away.

“He gets criticism because of the amount of money he costs and the way he plays when he sometimes looks a bit mardy but he has got to get over that.

“He works his socks off, he has a great deal of pace and ability but he has got to get stronger. He has to be strong enough mentally and physically to get through this run that he is in.

“We have played three games so far and Mark Davies is the only player to score. But I know Johan has got a decent goalscoring record and a fantastic amount of ability.

“He’s decent in the air without being Kevin Davies, has pace and he’s 6ft 2in and built really strongly so I think he has all the pre-requisites to do it in England.

“He has to accept there is a physical contact in this country and he has got to deal with it.”

Meanwhile Sweden assistant manager Roland Andersson insists Elmander does not suffer a crisis of confidence when he joins up for international duty.

“He scores for us,” he told Fotbollskanalen. “Of course it affects him. It is a tough situation for him, and it was tough last year when he went for a long time without scoring.

“Of course you feel it, when you’ve been bought for a lot of money. It’s just to hope that things loosen for him.

“We all know how hard he works and that he scored for us last game.”