'Team ethos' was what Lee Bowyer learnt from his time under George Graham whilst at Leeds United.

“You can’t play as individuals; you have to play as a team,” is still the Charlton boss's mantra as he prepares his side for the league leaders visit to The Valley on Saturday.

Bowyer signed for Leeds in the summer of 1996, then managed by Howard Wilkinson.

Graham took over in the September of that year and Bowyer began to blossom, but not after a harsh lesson learnt by the midfielder.

“George left me out because I was getting forward trying to score all the time, then I wasn’t really defending!" he said.

"He literally said you aren’t playing until you work harder for the team.

"Thankfully it made me a better player as well.

"He left me out for around six weeks, and I benefited from that.”

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It was a lesson that stuck with Bowyer for over 250 games at Leeds, and although he continued to get forward, scoring 55 times for the Whites, it's a trait that he demands from his current crop of players as he negotiates his way through his first season of Championship football.

“If you aren’t prepared to put in a shift for the team you don’t play.

"The team is more important than any individual.

"Trust me every player wants to play and if they don’t, they shouldn’t be here.

"When the fans are watching on a Saturday, they will see every player working hard as a team.

“George was a big part of why we worked so hard when I was playing at Leeds.

"I’m the same here, you can’t play as individuals you have to play as a team.”