Charlton boss gives his verdict on Olympics call-up for young keeper

Nigel Adkins has expressed his delight that Ashley Maynard-Brewer has been called up for Australia’s squad for this summer’s Tokyo Olympics.

The 22-year-old keeper has been named in their 18-man party.

Maynard-Brewer jetted off yesterday to hook up with Graham Arnold’s squad.

“He’ll be away for a month – it is a fantastic life experience,” said Adkins. “I’m delighted for him, that he is going to go and sample being part of a team at the Olympics and everything that goes with that and travelling over to Japan.”

Maynard-Brewer is set to go out on loan to gain first-team experience. He has previously had spells with Dulwich Hamlet, Dover Athletic, Hampton & Richmond and Chelmsford City.

Adkins said: “I’ve got high hopes for Ash as a goalkeeper. He’s going to come back as the season starts, so we’ll sit down and make a decision with the best interests of him and also for us.

“At the end of the day he needs to be playing. It’s no good him being sat on the bench for another year, he needs to be playing football.

“We’ll review the whole situation and see where we go from there.”

Australia’s football team qualified for the Olympics for the first time since 2008. They are in Group C and kick off on July 22 against Argentina at the Sapporo Dome. The same venue hosts the meeting with Spain three days later before a July 28 fixture with Egypt at the Miyagi Stadium.

China’s Zheng Zhi is the only footballer to have played at an Olympics while on Charlton’s books.