Latics boss David Unsworth believes it is only a matter of time before Joe Nuttall backs up his work-rate for the team with goals.

The striker has scored three times since his move from Scunthorpe in early December, twice from the penalty spot.

His last goal came three games ago in the 4-2 win over Dagenham in which he missed from 12 yards before converting his second attempt.

But Unsworth says that even without yet being the goal threat he is striving to be, Nuttall is still making essential contributions to the team, most notably for recent strike partner Alex Reid, who has two goals in two games.

"He's giving us everything, work rate, his physicality, he's trying to link. The work he does, the stats he does, people don't see that. He's running further than anybody on the pitch. That gives Reidy the opportunity to go in behind,” Unsworth explained.

"Strikers are all about scoring goals and he'll be disappointed but from a manager's point of view the job he's doing for Reidy and the job he's doing for the team is massive and you need that when you're in a fight, and we are in a fight, and we're all up for that fight.

"He'll tell you he wants to score goals and I want him to, but he will do.

"He's a great lad, he works his socks off, he never misses a day's training.

"I think they're both working their socks off, Reidy's getting the goals, Joe's not, he just needs one to go off his backside or just to hit him and he'll be up and running.

“He'll get there.”

Unsworth added: "The work he does for the team, the unselfish work he does for the team, and the work he does for the team at set pieces, he's a big player for us.”