Charlton Athletic academy education is top notch – it’s why so many talented youngsters emerge

Charlton Athletic manager Nathan Jones has praised the football education handed to the club’s academy players after talking about some of his younger first-team players having the potential to become “superstars”.

Teenagers Karoy Anderson and Daniel Kanu are playing central roles under the Welshman with the former scoring his second League One goal of the season in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Northampton Town.

Both are on long-term contracts at the club but both Premier League and Championship scouts have been in the stands at recent matches.

“We have a lot of players here with the potential to be very, very good,” Jones told last week’s South London Press Football Pod. “Superstars is a big word and I don’t want to use it flippantly – but I am a big believer you can be anything you want if you apply yourself, work hard, have the focus and then the right structure and right people who want to guide and help you.

“If you take that on board and go again then people can be anything they want to be.

“I’ve not just come here to build a football club – I want to change peoples’ lives here as well.”

Anderson and Kanu both have an eagerness to learn and better themselves.

Jones added: “You can probably say that for all of the academy graduates here. First and foremost they have all got the attitude. This is a conveyor belt of talent here and Charlton has always produced young, hungry players with great attitudes.

“The reason they have got great attitudes, a lot come from varying backgrounds, is when they come into Charlton they get taught very, very well.

“They were here with Paul Hart and Steve Avory. Then Steve has continued that throughout the years. What they also have here is real attributes to be top footballers – athleticism, pace, power, technique and desire. Sometimes they look you in the eye and they want to do something. That’s the best thing.”

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PICTURE: KYLE ANDREWS