Charlton defender Naby Sarr needs to be more nasty if he wants to be an English football success story

BY RICHARD CAWLEY

Naby Sarr has been told to bring a more nasty edge to his play – because the Charlton Athletic defender has nearly all the other attributes to be a success in the English game.

That is the verdict of Addicks caretaker boss Lee Bowyer after the centre-back, 24, scored a late equaliser for the Addicks in Tuesday’s 1-1 draw against Brighton.

Sarr was signed on a five-year deal from Sporting Lisbon in the summer of 2015 but was loaned to French side Red Star for the 2016-17 season.

He served as a back up to Jason Pearce and Patrick Bauer in the 2017-18 campaign.

“I’ve done many, many finishing sessions with Naby and he is one of the best at the club,” said Bowyer. “He is not a striker but I am pleased for him [with the goal].

“He comes in every day and works so hard. He is such a nice man – if anything too nice.

“We were telling him not to let the striker pull off you and turn because then everyone has got to run 50 yards back. In the first 10 or 15 minutes their 10 was getting it and turning, their striker was turning but in the last 10, 15 or 20 minutes he started to started to do what we were saying.

“Would I like to play against him? No. But he needs to be more aggressive. He has to – he’s a centre-half. But does he have all the attributes? Yes. He have just got to get spitefulness out of him, make him more aggressive.

“He started the second half like a completely different player. He has it all there, we have just got to try and get it out. When we do keep-ball in training his feet are unreal for the size of him. He has all the potential and attributes.”

IMAGES BY PAUL EDWARDS