“Best yet” – Charlton boss Bowyer has praise for close-season signing’s display against the Dons

Marcus Maddison produced his best performance in a Charlton shirt in Saturday’s 5-2 win over AFC Wimbledon.

That is the verdict of Addicks manager Lee Bowyer, as the 27-year-old had his longest spell on the pitch since joining as a free agent on October 1.

Bowyer said: “That was his best performance by a long way.

“I judge them a lot in training. I constantly watch them. Maddison was good last week.

“I spoke to him yesterday and said: ‘You was good, but there is still more in there’. I know that and he knows that – there is still more to come from him.

“We’ve got to remember he hadn’t played football or done anything before he came to us from the first lockdown. He was well off it, fitness wise.

“He’s buying into working hard out of possession when we lose the ball – that’s not normal to him because he’s had a bit of a free rein in the past.

“That was pleasing – his workrate when he lost the ball. It wasn’t all the time, but he’s a work in progress. He contributed out of possession and we know what he can do when he is on the ball. He slotted Omar through and clipped one over the top for Conor – he’s got very, very good awareness and vision.

“But again, it is his all-round game I’m interested in. It’s my job to draw that out of him.”

Maddison was fouled a number of times in the opening exchanges.

“That’s always going to happen to him – the type of player he is,” said Bowyer. “He entices challenges. Some of them were really late. They were just trying to upset him, because he can hurt you.”

PHOTOS: KEITH GILLARD