Ellington has failed to find the net this season but it's not for the want of trying.
"Nathan has been incredibly unlucky over the last four or five weeks to actually not score," said Mackay.
"He has hit posts, he has hit bars and there were maybe two, if not three, chances in the second half (against Cardiff) where he could have scored."
The player himself is committed despite being on the transfer list. He's looking to prove he was worth the money paid for him.
"I've done well pre-season, and now the manager is happy with me, so I'm very happy to be here," he told BBC Three Counties Radio earlier this week.
"The fans are starting to see a little bit of me, and starting to turn around their thoughts, maybe.
"The first season I had wasn't too good and I want to repay that."