It was a night to remember for Mason Burstow at The Valley on Tuesday evening as the academy striker marked his Addicks bow with a goal and an assist.
Burstow replaced full debutant Elliot Lee on 80 minutes and within two minutes had stooped to nod home Charles Clayden’s cross with what was his first touch in senior football, before teeing up Josh Davison for his brace and Charlton’s sixth to top off an emphatic display in SE7.
“It couldn’t get much better, could it?” beamed Burstow, who penned his first professional deal with the Addicks this summer. “To come off the bench for my first ever professional game and to score straight away. It literally couldn’t get much better, I’m so happy!
“It’s a proud moment for me and my family. I was playing non-league not too long ago, I signed here in October and then to make my U23s debut - that was a big achievement. But then to do this today... it literally couldn’t get much better!”
Burstow lauded the clear pathway through to the first team for academy prospects, while also revealing the positive influence fellow forwards Jayden Stockley and Josh Davison have had on him.
“I think it’s literally the management and how every day off the pitch and on the pitch we focus,” he explained. “In the under-23s we focus on how we can get into the first team and how we can stay there. Everyone is supportive of everyone. The teammates are supportive as much as the managers are. It just really helps us when we make the step up.
“Especially looking at similar positions so Josh [Davison] and Jayden Stockley, just seeing what they do to make an impact and then seeing if I can take that and make it part of my game as well. So then when I make that step up I can fit in and do what I’ve done today.”