Naby Sarr is keen to add a “nasty” element to his game as he fights for more playing time during Charlton Athletic’s promotion-chasing campaign.

The 24-year-old’s equaliser cancelled out Pascal Groβ’s opener during the Addicks’ 1-1 draw with Brighton and Hove Albion at the Valley in a pre-season friendly.

While caretaker boss Lee Bowyer wants him to show more “spitefulness” in his style of play, it’s not the first time he’s heard that from a manager.

Sarr said: “I like the beautiful game but it’s not always a good thing for a centre back! It’s a thing I’m working on because it’s not the first manager who is telling me this, so yeah I’m working on it every single day.

“It’s not in my nature. I think it’s hard to change your nature but I’m trying, and I have to because otherwise I’m making it difficult for my teammates. I have no choice to change it.

“It’s something important for me to change, because if I change this maybe I’ll have more opportunities to play.”

He also wants to build on the 25 appearances he had for Charlton last season as they missed out on promotion to playoff final runners-up Shrewsbury Town.

While the new League One season is yet to kick-off, with Bowyer’s men travelling to Sunderland on opening day, the defender is confident in the team’s promotion chances.

Sarr added: “Last season we were close, so this season we want to be even closer or be in the Championship.

“I think last season was motivation for this season, and we know what we have to do and what we have to do better to achieve promotion. It’s just some details that we have to take care of.

“We’re training hard every single week to change that in our way to get promoted.”