Wigan Athletic's record signing is enduring something of a barren run in front of goal with just three goals in his last 19 games.
The Duke fluffed a golden chance at Stockport on Tuesday night to score his 20th goal of the campaign, prompting fears that a hectic year is causing him to go off the boil.
Latics manager Jewell accepts Ellington is lacking a bit of confidence in and around the opposition penalty area, but assures the striker that needn't be the case.
He said: "Everyone misses chances, that is part and parcel of being a striker, but if you are going to miss them, you at least want to miss them positively.
"With the chance at Stockport he was caught in two minds – if he took a big hit at it and it went over, that's okay.
"But he didn't know in his own mind what to do and that might be because he's low on confidence.
"I don't know why that is the case because he shouldn't be. At times at Stockport he looked like he was back to something like his best.
"Admittedly he had a poor game against Luton on Saturday, but he seemed to have bounced back from that."
Ellington's last goal came at Crewe on February 25, one of three goals he's scored since Christmas.
While Jewell fully expects the 21-year-old to rediscover his goal touch, the boss still looks likely to bring another striker into the squad before next week's transfer deadline.
He only has three forwards available to him, and all of them are in the starting line-up at the moment with Andy Liddell playing out on the right wing.
Whether the boss chooses to make a permanent signing or rely on the loan market remains to be seen.
But he definitely wants more firepower to make sure promotion is achieved sooner rather than later.
A signing before Saturday's trip to QPR would be ideally, although Latics would have to move quickly as they're due to travel to London on Friday morning.
Several names have been bandied about, but Jewell has a policy of not discussing the identities of transfer targets until a deal is done.
Meanwhile, Latics are waiting to hear which kit they'll be playing in at Loftus Road.
The obvious choice would be the third choice red strip as both the home and away shirts clash with Rangers' blue and white hoops.
But the only time they're worn it this season was in the 1-0 defeat at Colchester and some people at the club think it is jinxed.
I understand Latics have asked the Football League whether they can play in their lucky white away kit – they've yet to get beaten in that.
The final decision will rest with the match referee, in this case Premiership official Steve Dunn.
Article from the wigan Evening Post.