Highly-rated Charlton defender Joe Gomez admitted his debut season exceeded all expectations.

The England U19 international made his senior league debut on August 19 in an impressive 3-2 win over Derby County at The Valley and has gone on to amass a further 19 appearances in the Championship this year.

His eye catching form has attracted interest from a host of Premier League clubs, with Arsenal, Man City, Chelsea, Man Utd, Everton and Newcastle all having been linked with the 17-year-old at some point.

Gomez attended the club’s end of season awards bash on Sunday, where he picked up the young player of the year honour after an impressive breakthrough year.

He admitted: “I didn’t foresee that the campaign was going to go so well, I just came in during pre-season and didn’t really know what to expect.

“I had ambitions to do as well as I could, but the managers have given me a huge chance and that’s something I’m so grateful for.”

Just last week, Gomez was named on a three-man shortlist for the Football League apprentice of the year award, which was subsequently won by Lewis Cook of Leeds United.

Nonetheless, the youngster was just happy to be in the running for the prize.

Gomez said: “It was a humbling experience and I was so grateful to be nominated for something like that, so now it’s up to me to keep pushing on and to do more next season.

“I’ve really enjoyed this season and to be able to top it off with an evening like this one is brilliant.

“It’s down to the team, and the players and staff here for helping me.”

Guy Luzon’s arrival at The Valley in January sparked a turnaround in fortunes for the Addicks as under former coach Bob Peeters, the side went three months without a victory during a barren winter spell.

But Gomez insisted each of the two gaffers had helped his development.

He explained: “Both managers this season have had their own distinctive styles.

“Guy Luzon is more about organisation and I really enjoy playing for him.

“He’s given me the opportunity to play centre back and for someone my age that’s a massive thing.”

Gomez is by far and away the youngest of the central defensive quartet at the club, with his team-mates having all played in the Premier League at some point, a destination the youngster looks destined for st some point.

And the Charlton academy product admitted having such experienced faces around him in training and on the pitch has been integral to his development so far.

He said: “Looking at the careers of the likes of Andre, Roger and Tal, they’ve all had good years in football and all I can try to do is to emulate that and learn from them.

“Being with them and learning from them every day in training is something I’m incredibly lucky to be able to do.”

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