Former Charlton Athletic winger Scott Wagstaff has offered an insight into what it is like to progress through the youth system at The Valley.

The South London club have become well renowned for consistently bringing through exciting young talents that go on to bigger things, with the likes of Joe Gomez and Ademola Lookman the two most notable departees in recent seasons, and Wagstaff, who joined the academy as an eight-year-old has now offered an insight into the key to their success.

“They just give you a chance," the 29-year-old told Football League World in an exclusive interview.

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"Any young lad just needs to have that chance to be seen to play. I think there are probably a lot of young lads out there who are just as good but just haven’t been given a chance and fallen by the wayside.

"The younger you can play games and understand what it’s about will stand you in good stead. Charlton have been brilliant at bringing the young lads through.

"I was coming through with the likes of Jonjo Shelvey, Chris Solly, Harry Arter and Josh Wright, so there are some big names who have come through at that same time. Carl Jenkinson as well.

"But I think as a club they just give you a chance to let you showcase what you can do. There’s no pressure on you and the fans were obviously excellent.

"As a young lad coming through, they love home grown players so they’d always support that as well so I think that definitely helped.”

Two of their top three record sales have come through the youth system, with Scott Parker's move to Chelsea in 2003 bringing in £12million whilst Lookman's Everton transfer was worth £8million.

Wagstaff went on to play 137 times for The Addicks, playing a key role in their impressive promotion to League One in the 2011/12 season under Chris Powell.

He then moved on to play for Bristol City where he again won promotion from League One, eventually ending up with AFC Wimbledon, where he has played for the past two campaigns.