Charlton Athletic’s Jordan Cousins has been called up to the England Under-21 team for the first time.

Cousins will participate in the prestigious Toulon tournament later in the month, as well as being available for the European qualifier against Wales. The Wales match will be played at Swansea’s Liberty Stadium.

Cousins made his breakthrough at The Valley this season, making 40 starts in all competitions, plus another 7 appearances as a substitute. He scored at Barnsley in August and also notched the crucial winning goal at Nottingham Forest in March.

Gareth Southgate’s acknowledgement of Cousins’ talent is a justified reward for the Greenwich born midfielder’s fine first season in the League.

Kurtis Cumberbatch signed a one-year contract at The Valley on Tuesday. Cumberbatch was on trial at the end of the season after being released by Watford.

Cumberbatch was previously at Tottenham and he can play a variety of roles in midfield, though he is likely to be used as a wide player by Charlton.

He will be involved with Jason Euell’s Under-21 team next season and will have the opportunity to press for inclusion in the first team squad if he does well.

Amaury Gerard has said that he has been appointed as Roland Duchatelet’s network media manager. Charlton have been without a media manager since Matt Wright left at the beginning of the season, but Gerard will be based in Budapest. Whether the new appointment will substantially ease the workload of the club’s communication team remains to be seen.

The appointment may be a sign of things to come, it is more than possible that further network – as opposed to club specific – appointments will follow.