Charlton striker Bonne using tips from Aubameyang and Lacazette friendly masterclass to fire Addicks to safety
WHO would have thought a 6-0 hammering by Arsenal could have a silver lining in Charlton’s relegation battle.
Macauley Bonne was part of Lee Bowyer’s Addicks, who were crushed in the pre-Project Restart friendly defeat at an empty Emirates 11 days ago.
But the Zimbabwe striker plans to use tips from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette in his bid for Championship survival.
Bonne, who wants to fill the boots of no-show Lyle Taylor at the Valley, said: “I watched Arsenal’s strikers and I saw why they are a level above.
“The one thing I really noticed from Aubameyang and Lacazette is they don’t waste any energy. They have an on and off switch.
“They can walk around watching the ball for two minutes but when it comes to them, ‘It’s bang, 100-miles an hour and the ball is in the back of the net’.
“I’ve been known to waste energy. I might run around like a headless chicken but I’m trying to make sure I’m working hard.
“Now I’ve realised it’s something I don’t always have to do. After watching them, I need to learn and save as much energy as I’ve got.”
Bonne has been a rare shining light for relegation-threatened Charlton with eight goals in 24 Championship games.
I watched Arsenal’s strikers and I saw why they are a level above. The one thing I really noticed from Aubameyang and Lacazette is they don’t waste any energy
Macauley Bonne
Bowyer’s side are third bottom, the South London club have had three owners in a troubled season while star striker Taylor has refused to play with his contract due to expire amid fears of injury.
For Bonne, Taylor’s stance – which has changed several times in recent weeks according to numerous Charlton contacts – has opened the door for the 24-year-old to continue his remarkable journey.
He swapped then National League champions Leyton Orient and the late and ‘influential’ Justin Edinburgh for English football’s second tier in June 2019.
Bonne added: “It’s Lyle’s decision and we have to respect that. It’s a big blow but it’s an opportunity for myself and the other forwards.
“I see it as my chance to show people that I can score again in the final nine games.”
Eventually, Bonne wants to follow in the footsteps of Jamie Vardy and Callum Wilson, who have completed the fairytale rise of non-league to the Premier League.
There has been previous interest from Leicester, Newcastle and Sheffield United, but for now, Hull away on Saturday is Bonne’s next mission.
The ex-Colchester, Lincoln and Woking forward said: “The ambition for every kid is to play at the highest level one day, whether that’s with Charlton or another club.
“That’s my goal. If I’m given the chance, like I have been here, then I believe I’ll take it.
“I sit in the bath and watch Youtube videos of Vardy and Callum Wilson. They have gone from non-league to the highest level and it fuels me to say, ‘Why can’t it be me?
“I want to write a story like Vardy, I’m on my own journey and I don’t want to waste time.
“I’ve still got a job to do at Charlton but the interest is flattering because I grew up on a council estate in Ipswich and used to play football on a basketball court with 30 mates.
“To go from that to being linked to Premier League clubs is overwhelming.
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“Only a few years ago, I was playing at Maidstone, Maidenhead and Solihull Moors and grounds which didn’t even have stands so to play at the Emirates was an unbelievable experience.
“But it gave me a kick up the arse to think, ‘I want to be on that stage’.
“Charlton were a Premier League club not so long ago and that’s the only direction I want to see us going – up.”