Lee Bowyer has praised Macauley Bonne after his two-goal performance helped Charlton on their way to a thrilling 3-2 victory over Bristol City – and urged the striker to become “hungrier and more aggressive” if he wants to become even better.

Bonne, who joined from Leyton Orient in the summer, scored twice before teeing up youngster Alfie Doughty for the winning goal late into the second half.

The 24-year-old has played a key role during the Addicks’ debilitating injury crisis and now has eight goals this campaign, despite having spent the past two seasons in non-league football.

Bowyer’s words from last week at Queens Park Rangers appeared to work wonders as he muscled off defender Tomas Kalas to lash home the equaliser following Niclas Eliasson’s strike.

READ: Youngster Alfie Doughty praised after Bristol City winner

He said: “I'm pleased, more so for the second goal. The first one, he took it really well, [but with] the second one he was in a similar situation last week at QPR.

“He was running through, side-by-side with a centre half and the centre half just moved him aside too easily. Too easy, too soft, too nice. That's what Macca [Macauley Bonne] is at times. He's too nice and he's too soft.

“Again, it drives me mad because I think the size of him - he's a big boy - like use your strength. Be aggressive, be horrible to play against.

“I played with [Alan] Shearer, probably one of the most horrible strikers that you'll ever play against but he'd score goal after goal after goal. [Every time] the centre half has got to play against you they're thinking, 'I don't want to play against him'.

“That's what I want Macca to become, I want him to use his strength. Last weekend he didn't, the fella just moved him out the way. In his second goal today he knocked the fella out the way. That's why he scored, that's the difference.

“You have to be horrible, you have to say, 'I'm going to score this goal'. This is 50-50 chance, what was is it going to go? Last week it went their way.

“I told Macca, not good enough, this week it's gone his way. From what? Just being more hungry and aggressive against the fella that you're playing against. It's not rocket science, [I want Bonne to be] more hungry and stronger.

“Again, if he brings that into his game - because he's improved so much from the player we got in pre-season, so much, it's frightening how much he's improved - then he'll become a better player. An even better player that what we've improved here already.”

READ: Report: Charlton 3 Bristol City 2 - Bonne double helps seal win

But Bowyer refused to downplay play-off chasing Bristol City, who have now lost four league games in a row for the first time since November 2018.

He added: “Let's not forget, Bristol City are a very, very, very good team. They're tipped for top six and I can see why. Their manager [Lee Johnson] has done a great job with the squad that they have and built a good squad of players that should be up and in amongst it.

“We've got a load of lads that are coming in and trying, and their efforts and togetherness. To go 2-1 down after the run we've been on to then fight back and win the game? Our fans play a massive part.”