“It’s frightening the way he has developed in one season” – Lee Bowyer on Macauley Bonne

Charlton Athletic manager Lee Bowyer says he will continue being tough on Zimbabwe international striker Macauley Bonne.

He was quoted on London News Live as saying:

People say at times I’m harsh on people and at times I’ve said stuff – but I do it for a reason. Because I have to push him. If I just accept a performance that I don’t think is acceptable but I just accept that as okay then he’s going to stay at that level – that’s how it works.
Part of my thing with Macca is to forget the goals – it is what he does in front of goal, because he needs to improve on that and be an all-rounder. You see what we did with Lyle [Taylor] – he is now an all-round striker. For Macauley to be that and go to another level he had to improve.
With his physique he should be stronger and bullying defenders – that’s what Lyle ended up doing. Macca was too soft. So I had to criticise and push and push him.

But Bowyer is pretty sure his player will improve

He can improve – and that’s what he will do.
The one thing I guarantee is he’ll improve again. From the player we received last year to the player we have today there’s a massive difference. I can’t tell you how big a difference – it’s frightening the way he has developed in one season.

Bonne opened his account this season for the League One side last week in the Carabao Cup.