Wigan Athletic striker makes goal admission - 'I'm always critical of myself'

And the summer signing from Burnley hopes an extra week on the training ground will lead to an increase in output when the team returns this weekend at AFC Wimbledon.

Costelloe was involved in Latics' final goal before the break - when his header at Stockport in last Tuesday's Vertu Trophy group stage clash was helped over the line by the County goalkeeper.

The Irishman could have scored and assisted further goals on the night, only for Latics to once again fail to make the most of the chances in front of goal.

"It kind of summed up the season a bit...we did well in parts, I could have walked away with a couple of goals, but we weren't clinical enough," said Costelloe.

"The goal that did come, I don't know what happened, but I'll take it with a smile on my face.

"It's something I've needed, and hopefully the goals will start to come a bit more freely now.

"I'm always critical of myself, I know I haven't been putting it in the net as much as I'd have liked, and that's what I was brought here to do.

"I've been doing a lot of work off the pitch to try to put that right, and I feel I'm moving in the right direction."

Both head coach Ryan Lowe and assistant Glenn Whelan have spoken of the need for Latics to be more ruthless in front of goal.

"I think it's more of a confidence thing more than anything," added Costelloe, whose solitary league goal for Latics came against Doncaster Rovers in September. "In football you always have highs and lows, and it's about managing those two sides of the spectrum.

"As strikers, we're paid to put the ball in the back of the net, and it doesn't always happen like that. You do go through droughts, and it is what it is, you have to learn to live with that.

"As long as you're getting into the right positions, which I feel I have been, that's the main thing. If I keep doing that, my luck will change, and the goals will hopefully start to come."