Charlton Athletic boss Jackson on next step in red-hot striker Daniel Kanu’s progression

Johnnie Jackson has been impressed by Daniel Kanu’s progress at Charlton Athletic – and says the next step for the highly-rated striker is to turn in impressive displays for their U23 team.

The Dartford-based forward has scored 31 goals at junior level for the Addicks this season and recently signed a long-term professional contract.

Kanu, 17, played in Charlton’s 2-0 loss to Brighton in the FA Youth Cup on Wednesday night.

The South Londoners recently sold Mason Burstow, a year older than Kanu, to Chelsea on transfer deadline day although he was loaned back for the remainder of the campaign.

Asked when Kanu could break into the first-team fold, Jackson replied to the South London Press: “Difficult to say. He’s doing great things with the U18s, they are having a great season. His focus needs to be there and then get opportunities with the U23s, which he has started to do.

“He’s a bright young talent and certainly knows where the goal is. He needs to make those progressions. He’s done fantastic for the U18s and he needs to impact U23s football when he gets an opportunity there. When you start doing that then we start taking a look.

“If opportunities occur and we are short on a Saturday and we need to bolster the squad, then if someone is doing well for Anthony Hayes’ team they will be considered to come over with us.

“There are opportunities as well in training when they do come over. That’s what Mason [Burstow] did fantastically. When he came and trained with us he had an impact straight away and didn’t look out of place, that’s important as well.

“The young lads have to hold their own. It’s not just the numbers they are posting in U18s and U23s football. It’s how do they look when they come over with the group? You make decisions based on that.”

PICTURE: TOM WEST