Lee Bowyer has this strong message for Jonny Williams ahead of potential Sunderland reunion

The Welsh international has fallen down the pecking order at The Valley in recent weeks but was thrust back into the first-team fold for the EFL Trophy clash with Brighton & Hove Albion on Wednesday evening.

But Bowyer has heavily hinted that further first-team opportunities will not be forthcoming unless Williams can improve his end product – having called on the midfielder to add goals to his game.

"It’s not really a fitness thing,” said the Charlton boss, speaking to London News Online.

“I want to see more end product. In the 45 minutes we played him today, Jonny got into some great areas and we got him the ball in some great areas but the final ball and the end product wasn’t good enough. Tonight was the same.

“That’s why Jonny has not been starting. He’s been with us now for a long time and he still hasn’t scored a goal. He plays in a position where you have to score goals. That’s what’s happening with Jonny at the moment.

“I keep putting my arm around him and telling him how great he is. But at the end of the day you can only do that for so long and you start to need an end product. We’re working on him every single day. Telling him the right things, the right information. It’s up to him on the pitch to produce that.”

Williams has played in all three of the Addicks’ League One games thus far, albeit his appearances have been restricted to cameos from the bench.

And he is likely to be among the match day squad on Saturday when former club Sunderland visit The Valley – given Charlton are still adding depth to their ranks following a tumultuous summer, where a wage embargo restricted their ability to bring in reinforcements.

The 26-year-old made 13 appearances during a loan spell at the Stadium of Light, scoring once during the ill-fated 2017/18 campaign which saw the Black Cats relegated from the Championship.

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