Graham Coughlan has backed Tom Nichols to start finding the net for Bristol Rovers.
The Gas striker has not scored since September 3 and endured another poor night in the EFL Trophy victory over Swindon Town,
Nichols has come in for some criticism from Rovers fans for his performances, but Coughlan called for some positivity towards his player.
He said: "If you take that amount of stick in life, if you're getting pelters all the time - and I feel it myself at times, I'm a big, tough man and I get a hell of a lot of stick.
"It's the case that you have to take it, you dust yourself down.
"It's not nice but we have to take it. I just keep telling Nicho that the stick that they're giving, they're giving it to me, not to him.
"I just wish there was a little bit more positivity and support for young Tommy because he works his socks off.
"He's a great kid and if we can get him going, get him a couple of goals under his belt, then who knows, he may just kick on.
"Somebody has obviously seen something in him to pay that kind of money for the lad, and you just never know.
"He works his socks off, his hold-up play is good, his hold-up play is good.
"The lads love him in there, I have a lot of time for him - I often think of putting him in the car and taking him home to adopt him because I like the kid, he's a great lad.
"He's another one who is frustrated and just wants to play but it will happen for him.
"As I said to Tommy Nichols, he's a proven goal scorer and a quality player - if it doesn't happen for him here, it may happen for him elsewhere, because good players don't lose it overnight."
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