People have been asked by Lee Bowyer to be patient when judging Charlton’s Macauley Bonne .

The 23-year-old arrived from non-league’s Leyton Orient in the summer as a ‘project’ says the Charlton boss.

Injuries to star forward Lyle Taylor and new arrival Tomer Hemed however have thrust the Zimbabwean into the fore and Bowyer has chosen the forward to lead the line in the last three fixtures.

Two goals, including the winner at The Valley over Leeds at the end of September have got people talking about the attacker.

Charlton’s boss however remains grounded, appealing to fans not to put too much pressure on the untested forward who came with a record of 45 goals in 90 appearances for Orient.  

“A striker is judged on goals,” Bowyer said.

“But my worry was when he first came was that everyone would’ve expected him to be a top Championship striker and he wasn’t there then.

“We are working with him every day, that’s why we kept him and didn’t let him go on loan because he was progressing nicely and improving.

“When he came he said himself it’s a completely different level to what he was used to.

“But he’s working hard and progressing that’s the main thing.

“He’s still not the finished article but he’s getting better and better.

“So to come in and do what he’s done is amazing, but there’s small parts he needs to work on in his game.

“Against Fulham he was outstanding.

“His hold up play, his movement, they’re what we are working with, because we know he can finish.

“Most important thing for me is that we don’t expect too much too soon, and nothing has changed.

“He’s come in and scored goals but we still have to be patient, because he will become a very good player no doubt.”

With Taylor a long-term absentee and Hemed expected to be unfit for Saturday’s visit of Derby, Bonne is expected to lead the line for Bowyer once more in what will be just his sixth Championship appearance.

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