GARY Megson has backed misfiring forward Johan Elmander to prove he is no £10m flop.

Bolton manager Megson insists the club record signing is in good company in struggling to find the back of the net but is determined to guide him through his sluggish start to life in the Premier League.

Elmander arrived from Toulouse in the summer with high expectations but has failed to light up the Reebok with only one goal in eight appearances.

Megson - who is under pressure from Bolton supporters - is convinced Elmander will soon prove why he was so determined to break the bank and bring him to England.

"There's a lot of pressure from outside to perform and it's always viewed in goals," he said. "But he's linked up well.

"His season's been a bit stop and start due to injury, but he will come good. Within the dressing room there's no problems with him.

"He needs to get used to the way that we play.

"He needs to get used to the things that we will accept and will not accept. And that will take a bit of time."

Elmander scored a goal on his debut against Stoke but has fired blanks ever since.

Megson though insists the size of his transfer is not weighing heavily on the 27-year-old - pointing to other Premier League stars who have also struggled in front of goal this season. Robbie Keane needed 12 Premier League games before breaking his duck for Liverpool, following a £20m move from Tottenham.

Likewise Manchester City's £18m Brazilian, Jo, who has struggled to find his feet at Eastlands with only one goal in the league, while Roman Pavlyuchenko's wastefulness in front of goal contributed to Juande Ramos's sacking at Tottenham.

Megson has his own concerns about his job, with fans stepping up their campaign to drive him out of Bolton, but he is determined to deflect the criticism away from his players - Elmander in particular.

"There are quite a few players who have signed for Premier League clubs in the off-season who are going through the same things as Johan and it takes time," he said.

"Ordinarily you would say the price tag is a factor, but you look at the prices of some of the other people who aren't scoring goals.

"His work-rate is there for us and he'll get better."