Charlton boss had Sunday chat with Ronnie Schwartz after penalty miss against Oxford United

Lee Bowyer has told Ronnie Schwartz to put Saturday’s unconverted penalty kick behind him – and would have no qualms about the Charlton striker stepping up in tomorrow’s home game against Northampton Town.

Schwartz saw his spot-kick saved in Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Oxford United. He was consoled at full-time by club captain Jason Pearce.

“I spoke to him yesterday and said: ‘Look, there’s no point worrying about things you can’t change or control’,” said Bowyer. “It’s gone. What you do is move on. I told him: ‘I trust you to take the next penalty – you’re a good penalty-taker. That’s the game – the keeper made a good save. Between now and the end of the season you’ll score goals for us, no doubt. If there was another penalty tomorrow I’d ask you to take it’.

“I would have rather he scored – but he didn’t. He told me he struggled to sleep and I knew that would be the case. But the most important thing is he puts it behind him and we move on.”

Schwartz’s pregnant partner is back in his native Denmark. The Covid-19 pandemic has prevented the forward, snapped up in January, from travelling back.

“It must be difficult – it is different for the lads here,” said Bowyer. “Stockley’s partner is up north and on a couple of occasions he has asked if he can have that extra day to spend with his family and I’ve given it to him.

“With Ronnie it is different, he can’t go home for a day or two. Once you have got that fitness up you can miss a day or two – family is the most important thing. It’s difficult for him, he’s just locked up in his flat. He ain’t got any family or friends around him. It’s difficult, but hopefully the situation with covid will be different next season and that will change the rules.”

PHOTO: KYLE ANDREWS