England: Charlton beam with pride as Ezri Konsa and Joe Gomez push for Euro 2024 spots | OneFootball

Hung proudly on the walls of Charlton’s Sparrows Lane training ground are photos of their most successful academy graduates.

The bulk of that space is saved for large photos of two players in particular, and both are in line to feature for England against Belgium at Wembley on Tuesday.

Ezri Konsa is set to start at right-back after making his debut in Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Brazil, a game in which Joe Gomez made his first international appearance in four years.

Liverpool star Gomez joined Charlton aged 10, while Aston Villa’s Konsa joined aged 12.

“I’m going tonight”, Charlton academy director Steve Avory tells Standard Sport.

“I don’t know if either will start, but it will be great to see them play against Belgium, particularly if they can both be on the pitch at the same time.

“You pinch yourself, really. Those two lads have come through the levels to the highest level possible.

“It also celebrates many of the people who worked with those two players when they were at the academy. I know Joe and Ezri pay their due respects to every member of the Charlton academy staff who worked with them.”

Konsa and Gomez, who both starred in the Charlton first-team before leaving the Addicks, are centre-backs by trade but have filled in at full-back for club and country.

“They were both versatile during their time here”, Avory recalls.

“Ezri was a midfielder until he was about 16. Unai Emery seems to have converted him into a right-back, but we know he can play centre-back.

“I never saw Joe as a left-back, but, again, he’s proven his versatility. He’s had a couple of very difficult years with injury, come back into the Liverpool XI and done really well.

“Joe came in at 10 and Ezri at 12. Most have ups and downs, but with these two players it was a seamless progression in their time here.”

Avory remembers academy staff testing Gomez and Konsa in older age groups.

“They always stood out, particularly in the latter schoolboy years from 14 onwards when they were both promoted to play in the age-group above,” he says.

“They did briefly play together as Under-17s. They demanded, in their performances, to be tested in the age-group above.

“They are both local lads; one from east London, one from south London.

“There’s no reason why our young players shouldn’t dream to achieve what Joe and Ezri have done. I just hope they recognise — and it does take some recognising - that it takes a lot of resilience and desire.”

So, could there be two Charlton academy products on the plane to Euro 2024?

“I’d like to think so”, Avory smiles. “Both can play in a number of positions. Fingers crossed Gareth [Southgate] sees it that way. It would fill me with enormous pride.”