‘Clubs will be monitoring him’ – Charlton striker Miles Leaburn looking a hot property

Charlton Athletic manager Ben Garner knows that Miles Leaburn’s impressive transition to senior football will be attracting interest.

The 18-year-old striker scored his fifth goal of the season in Tuesday night’s 4-2 win over Exeter City.

Leaburn, previously on Chelsea’s academy books before being snapped up by the Addicks following his release, hobbled off with an ankle injury in the second half.

Charlton’s top-scorer went for a scan earlier this week to determine the full extent of the problem.

Palace sporting director Dougie Freedman and Alex Aldridge, Millwall’s director of football operations and recruitment, were in the directors’ box in midweek.

Asked if clubs would be looking at Leaburn, Garner replied: “For sure. I’m not sitting here and being naive. I’m thankful that we’ve got him on a long contract.

“And, not being disrespectful to Miles, he’s not ready to move on yet. He’s flourishing, he’s developing and he’s playing football. But clubs, just on data alone, will be monitoring him.

“There will be a lot of clubs watching him between now and January, for certain.

“That’s a good sign. It shows we’re developing good players and producing good players – plus we give them the opportunity.

“I’m not sure there are too many clubs that would’ve given an 18-year-old, unproven, an opportunity to play right from day one. We’ve done that and he’s grabbed his opportunity. He’s a joy to work with every day.

“He showed fantastic composure for his goal. There aren’t many 18-year-olds who wouldn’t lash that with their left foot – he set the defender up, chopped back on his right and finished it really, really well.

“There was a huge progression in his performance, just from last Saturday to tonight.”

MAIN PICTURE: PAUL EDWARDS