Charlton boss Bowyer urges former Hull and Posh attacker to try and add more bite to his game

BY RICHARD CAWLEY

Lee Bowyer has told Marcus Maddison he at least needs to try and physically compete – even if it isn’t the Charlton Athletic attacker’s main strength.

The former Peterborough United and Hull City man was blasted by the Addicks manager for ‘jumping’ out of a tackle in Friday night’s 2-0 loss to Accrington Stanley.

Maddison later came off with an ankle injury and was due to go for a scan today.

Bowyer said: “Every player has got their strengths and weaknesses, I understand that. But when players are out there on the pitch I expect them to compete. When I say compete – if there is a tackle then you make a challenge, whether you win it or not is a different thing.

“Some players tackle harder than others. For some people that is their strength, for some people it is not their strength. But you can try. That’s what upset me.

“Everyone knows the person I was as a player. You could probably say it was one of my strengths. That’s why I don’t like to see people jump out of tackles. He actually hurdled the fella.

“Every other player on the pitch might not have won their tackles and battles but they tried. It is not Albie Morgan’s strength but at least he is trying now. The same with Jake [Forster-Caskey] – he is a footballer and not a physical player. But he is trying to put his head in places he probably shouldn’t at times on Friday.

“Everyone should at least try. You have got all your team-mates around you trying and you do something like that – I don’t think it is good.

“I hope he’s not out too long because he does bring us something different. Yeah, it was disappointing him jumping out of the tackle but we’re going to miss him. We say the other week [his goal against Plymouth] that he can be bright for us.”

Photos by Keith Gillard and Paul Edwards