PHIL Parkinson has backed loan signing James Henry to end his spell in purgatory and get among the goals at Wanderers.

The frustrated winger has gone eight games without finding the back of the net since his deadline day arrival from Wolves, missing some gilt-edged opportunities in the last few weeks.

But the former Millwall man – who hopes to overcome a hamstring problem to face Oldham Athletic this weekend – has received the full support of his manager Parkinson, who believes the 28-year-old’s luck will change.

“There’s not a lot I can say to James at the moment,” he told The Bolton News. “You have to keep working on the training ground, believing that things will turn.

“We have got a lot of faith in James and think he’s a player who will get lots of assists and goals.

“Players don’t mean to miss – I can assure fans of that – and James has had his head in his hands after some of them.

“You look at the way Sammy Ameobi responded after we put him on the bench, it was excellent. You have to keep your head up.”

Henry has a reasonable scoring record at Molineux, hitting 18 goals in three seasons and also got double figures in his final campaign with Millwall.

His fortunes have not been as favourable since sealing a six-month move to the Macron, however, and have been endemic of the problems Parkinson’s side have had in front of goal since the start of the season.

Only Saturday’s opponents Oldham and Coventry City have scored fewer goals this season but Mark Beevers disputes the criticism that Wanderers do not have within their ranks a “natural goalscorer.”

“I play with the players every day and it’ll come as no surprise that we’re whipping them in the top corner in training,” he said.

“It’s one of those things, you have to get it on to the pitch on a Saturday afternoon.

“James has got himself into some fantastic positions and I’ve played with him before at Millwall and I know he can finish them on a different day. The lads will back him.

“He’ll keep going and any player that does that deserves credit. It’s quite easy to miss a chance and go under, so to speak.

“Yes, he hasn’t been putting the chances away, but he will do.”

Oldham Athletic have proved a tough nut to crack away from Boundary Park, losing just six of their last 29 games on the road, a record which stretches back to last August.

Parkinson’s Bradford City were one of only five sides to beat them last season, and their achievements are made all the more impressive considering the wholesale changes to the first team and managerial set-up over the summer.