David Unsworth believes Joe Nuttall’s selfless style is currently costing him goals, but he has backed the striker to soon start reaping the rewards of his hard work.

The Latics boss has described the 26-year-old as “a team player” who is willing to sacrifice personal glory for the good of the team.

Nuttall grabbed a goal in each of his first two games after making the move from Scunthorpe in December, but has scored only once in the 12 games since, while two of his three goals have come from the penalty spot.

But Unsworth says the former Blackburn and Blackpool forward is contributing to Latics’ upturn in form in other ways, and he feels it is only a matter of time before Nuttall starts finding the net.

"He runs his socks off and I'll show any fan the stats and the hard yards he puts in, the knocks he takes. He's the battering ram," said the Latics boss.

"He needs a goal and I thought he was going to get it in the first half against Woking. He wore their defence down.

"Most people see the unselfish job he does. He's a different type of striker. In our league we need Joe and the unselfish work that he does, and the job he's doing for the team.

"When we came in I didn't feel like we had someone who is capable of doing what Joe does for the duration of the game, and he's really helping us. He's helping us become a better team."

Unsworth added: "He'll tell you he's desperate for goals, and they will come. When he was in on Tuesday night I thought 'this is him', but unselfishly he's looking to pass it for an easier opportunity. That just tells you the type of lad he is and the type of player he is. He's unselfish.

"I see his face when others score and he's absolutely delighted. He's the first to jump on their back.

"I've played with strikers who haven't even celebrated when someone else has scored goals, because it's not them. I've played in teams where a striker scores a goal and you've got beat 3-1 and he's happy. That's not Joe. He's a team player and he's very much valued by myself and the players and the staff.

"He just needs a goal, and it will come."