Conor Gallagher, handed our Academy Player of the Year award last term, completed a move to Championship new boys Charlton Athletic late last week and got his first taste of league football as the Addicks made a winning beginning to life in the second tier.

A trip to Blackburn Rovers was the first task for Lee Bowyer’s side following promotion via the play-offs and they went ahead just before the break with a neat counter-attacking goal scored by Ben Purrington. Rovers fought back and equalised after the interval, with the scores remaining level as Gallagher entered for the final 24 minutes.

The 19-year-old caught the eye within moments of his introduction, moving intelligently to receive possession and winning a corner with a blocked strike. It was from a later set-piece that the visitors grabbed the winner as Lyle Taylor turned the loose ball in from close range.

After the game, Bowyer said of Gallagher: ‘I thought he did really well. He’s only a young kid, we put him on in the last 15 minutes or so and he never gave the ball away. He should be an exciting project for us and I’m looking forward to working with him.’

Matt Miazga featured throughout for Reading as the Royals started with a 3-1 defeat against Sheffield Wednesday. Former Blue Sam Hutchinson was among the goals for the visiting Owls.

Luke McCormick also made his senior bow on Saturday as Shrewsbury Town beat League One promotion favourites Portsmouth at New Meadow. The midfielder started the game and played 53 minutes as a super strike from Ryan Giles handed the hosts all three points.

Elsewhere in League One, Richard Nartey was an unused substitute as Burton Albion were beaten 1-0 by Ipswich Town.

Charly Musonda’s return to the Netherlands was marked with a brief cameo as Vitesse twice led against reigning Eredivisie champions Ajax. The young Belgian only featured once last term as injury hampered his time in Arnhem, though an 11-minute appearance off the bench made it a more positive start at the GelreDome this season. Goals from Matus Bero and Riechedly Bazoer handed Vitesse 1-0 and 2-1 leads but they had to settle for a point on the opening weekend.

In Brazil, Nathan was on the scoresheet for Atletico Mineiro as they recorded a 2-0 home win over Cruzeiro.

It was also announced last week that Carlo Cudicini has been appointed loan player technical coach and Claude Makelele has returned to the club as a technical mentor to our young players.