Morgan Fox insists young defender Ezri Konsa has proved he can cope with the challenges of first-team football.

Konsa first joined the Addicks at the age of 12 and has played a part in all six of Charlton’s pre-season friendlies this summer.

The 18-year-old has received strong praise from Russell Slade for his performances and fellow defender Fox has been equally impressed by the academy graduate.

Fox said: “He’s a really good lad. He’s got a good head on his shoulders and he’s willing to listen to the other pros as well as the coaches.

“He’s fitted in really well in pre-season.

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“He’s probably had more of a chance than he would have thought but when I was at that age it was the same thing, you want to be chucked in and you want to be tested.

“And what better way to do it than in pre-season. He’s shown that he can definitely deal with it.”

Konsa was one of several youngsters who featured against Ipswich Town on Tuesday evening, with Brandon Hanlan and Dillon Phillips getting opportunities to impress Slade.

Highly-rated forward Ademola Lookman, who was scouted by Arsenal while playing for the England U19s, also enjoyed a run-out following his time with the Three Lions.

Fox hopes Lookman, one of the brightest talents in the Championship last season, stays at Charlton this summer despite the club’s drop to League One.

“Ade is brilliant and he’s deserved all the credit he’s got going away with England,” Fox, 22, said.

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“He hasn’t trained much with us as he’s just got back but it was great to see him out there [against Ipswich] and hopefully he stays with us because he can be a big help.”

Fox, who was handed the captain’s armband against the Tractor Boys after Johnnie Jackson was substituted, added: “As a group we’ve really grown together.

“We had an important spell in Austria and then a draw against Ipswich is a great result I think.

“They are a strong side and are going to be a steady Championship team.

“But we held up to that challenge and even when they threw some big guns on at the end we dealt with it.”

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