Paper Talk: Team Game

A return of 15 goals from Nathan Ellington and Jason Roberts have fired Latics to the top of the table, and the strikers' exploits have hit the headlines.

But Jewell stresses the unbeaten start to the season has been a team effort and is keen for that fact to be recognised.

He said: "I don't just want us to be known as a two-man team which some of the papers are making us out to be.

"Of course the front two are always likely to score goals and out of the 19 we've scored this season, Duke and Jason have 15 of them.

"They are the first to acknowledge that there are good players around them and will tell you the service to them is good.

"This is a team game and it's up to everyone to be responsible for what's happening at both ends of the pitch.

"I think we are entitled to get a few more goals from the centre-backs because we stick them up for every set-play.

"We should have more goals from the midfield players and from Gary Teale on the wing who has bags of ability.

"At the other end, what has pleased me about our last two games is that we kept clean sheets.

"That was important after what happened at Wolves."

Although he wants goals from other areas of the pitch to supplement Ellington and Roberts, Jewell still expects his front two to be banging them in on a regular basis.

"I certainly hope there is more to come from the strikers," he said.

"There is only a fifth of the season gone so we need them to keep scoring and I think they will get better.

"We've also got David Graham champing at the bit to get into the side, so no one should be thinking they will be in the side each week no matter what.

"Ellington and Roberts are a handful and I wouldn't want to be playing against them when they're doing well.

"The Duke, came here at the right age and we have worked hard with him.

"He's always had the ability to score goals and now his team play is so much better.

"In the past he would only produce in fits and starts, now it is over the full 90 minutes.

"But I'm always on at him and he knows he can't afford to rest on his laurels."
Meanwhile, Jewell was today considering his options of how to replace the stricken Per Frandsen.

The Dane had surgery yesterday to repair knee ligament damage and faces at least three months on the sidelines.

Jewell had hinted the transfer market was a possibility, although he does have cover with Gareth Whalley and Alan Mahon.

It is believed he is looking at Portsmouth's England Under-21 international Gary O'Neil as a possibility.

A number of clubs have already enquired about taking the youngster on loan, but so far Pompey boss Harry Redknapp has refused.