The striker has just one goal, a penalty, in his last nine games since signing for Wigan Athletic instead of Leeds United.
Omar Bogle may have been one of the most prolific strikers in the Football League but making the step up from League Two outfit Grimsby Town to Championship strugglers Wigan Athletic was never going to be easy.
However, the 24-year-old, who was playing in the Conference North with Solihull Motors just three seasons ago, adapted to the second tier like the proverbial duck to water, netting a brace on his first start against Norwich City, Wigan Today reports.
But while not quite a false dawn, a tally of one goal in the nine games since has raised concerns that perhaps expecting a striker who has never played higher than League Two to fire you to Championship safety was a little ambitious.
With Wigan now seven points adrift of safety and having scored just twice in their last seven Championship fixtures, The Latics need Bogle to rediscover that golden touch before its too late.
“Omar’s been smashing since he came in to the club,” interim boss Graham Barrow, filling in after the recent sacking of Warren Joyce, told Wigan Today of his £1 million striker.
“We’ve been making demands on him, and I think he could do with this rest [over the international break] to find himself again. It’s all become about him a little bit – and he needs to become a better team player.”
While Barrow faces up to the task of somehow masterminding a great escape, Garry Monk won’t be losing too many sleepless nights on the other side of the Pennines.
According to The Express, Leeds turned down the chance to sign Bogle just before he joined Wigan on transfer deadline day – a decision which appeared a risk at the time due to the lack of depth up front and the overreliance on Chris Wood.
Almost two months on, however, Leeds have maintained their charge for promotion with Wood now pulling clear as league’s top scorer thanks to five goals in his last four games.
Furthermore, if there’s one characteristic that sums up Monk’s Leeds, its team-ethic. Barrow’s demands for Bogle to cut out the individualistic streak suggests he may have struggled to make the grade at Elland Road.
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