One of the teams Charlton tried to attract to The Valley for a friendly on 27 July was West Ham.

The calendar for the 2013/14 season sees the Premier League season start two weeks after the Football League season, making it difficult for Championship clubs to attract Premier League opposition. The Championship sides will have a real edge in terms of fitness at the end of July.

The Hammers would have been attractive opposition if rumours that they are trying to sign former Addick, Jonjo Shelvey,come to fruition.

Shelvey, Charlton’s youngest ever player and scorer, would have got a warm reception from the Valley faithful.

The prodiguous teenager made 49 appearances in all competitions for the Addicks, scoring 8 goals. Now 21, the Romford born midfielder has scored 7 goals in his 69 Liverpool appearances. Shelvey also scored 6 goals in 10 appearances for Blackpool, whilst on loan in the 2011/12 season.

Blackpool beat Leeds 5-0 at Elland Road in November 2011 with Shelvey netting a hat-trick. Jonjo is a boyhood West Ham fan so the rumoured move could be attractive for him.

Current Charlton prodigy, Callum Harriott, started in Englands’s Under-19 fixture with Georgia on Friday. The match ended in a 1-1 draw.