Paul Konchesky and Scott Parker have been club-mates, England team-mates, room-mates and close friends from their mid-teens.

Despite being the junior partner by a year, it was 'Konch' who won the race to establish himself as a first-team regular at Charlton.

Now, it is Parker who is catching the eye after some outstanding displays for The Addicks this season. And when Konchesky packs his suitcase on Saturday night for next week's under-21 international, he hopes to interrupt it with a congratulatory phone call to Parker.

"I think all our young boys have a right to listen out to the England squad to play Australia when it comes out on Saturday night," says Konchesky.

"There are four or five young ones doing well for the club at the moment and Sven Goran Eriksson clearly looks at teams outside the top six.

"I've known Scotty since I was 15. People might see him as the new kid on the block but it's no surprise to me how he's played this season. To me, he has always been capable of changing a game at any time.

"I've roomed with him for Charlton and England under-21s. We played table tennis and snooker and things like that when we were away. It was strange to go to the under-21s this season and be given my own room because Scotty had become too old for the squad.

"We are good friends and I would love to be able to call him on Saturday night and say 'well done mate'.

One of the most encouraging stories in the Premiership this season has been Charlton Athletic's exciting rise to eighth place with a team based around a crop of young English players.

Besides Parker, Jason Euell and Richard Rufus have admirers who would like to see them named by Sven Goran Eriksson in the squad to face Australia next week. Luke Young and Jonathan Fortune look to have great futures while 21-year-old Konchesky will be on under-21 duty in Italy next week with ambitions to be promoted into the senior squad over the next couple of years.

Despite the unusual surname, Konchesky is an Essex boy whose old school already includes one famous England player.

"I went to Eastbrook School near Romford, it's the school that Tony Adams went to," he reveals.

"I played football for as long as I can remember and my ambitions have always included playing for England, like Tony."

Whereas Adams was always in the shop window with one of the biggest clubs in Europe - Arsenal - Konchesky is at Charlton. If that might have presented a problem for would-be England internationals a few years ago, it certainly isn't an issue now as Chris Powell's inclusion by Sven Goran Eriksson has proved in the past couple of years.

"I have played for England from the 16s to the 21s and it's been good to be involved with David Platt at under-21s for the last two years because he's only just stopped playing himself and can put things across on the training field.

"I'm looking forward to going to Italy next week, they beat us 2-1 in the summer when Massimo Maccarone scored a couple of goals so we have to try and put that right. It is an experience playing teams like Italy, the tempo is slower and you have to watch out for their strikers going over."

Konchesky's pace and passing ability on the left side of defence or midfield have impressed a lot of judges over the past couple of years.

"Charlton have a good reputation for bringing through young players and it's good when a few of us develop together," he says.

"The international aspect only helps your footballing education. I have been to Switzerland and Slovakia with England and we'll be going to Portugal in March."

At 22, Parker is now ineligible for the under-21s but heads the Charlton hopefuls who want to be picked to face Australia. At least, it won't be strange surroundings - England will prepare for the Upton Park international at Charlton's training ground at Sparrow Lane.

"I realise how many good central midfielders there are in this country but when Chris Powell got his call-up, it gave all the English lads at Charlton hope," says Parker, whose two goals against Lee Bowyer's West Ham a fortnight ago raised a few eyebrows following on from his breathtaking solo winner against Leeds earlier in the season.

Parker has been earmarked for big things since showing ball-juggling skills in a TV advert and going to the Lilleshall school of excellence alongside Franny Jeffers.

"Leaving home at 14 was fairly tough. The first three weeks are fantastic, you play tennis, golf, everything is great. Then you realise you are on your own - no mum! It teaches you to become more responsible."

Taking responsibility is the Charlton way. And England look set to benefit from the club's clever nurturing of Parker, Konchesky and their peers.

Paul Konchesky was talking to Joe Bernstein

Italy v England under-21 international, Tuesday Feb 11
England v Australia senior international, Wednesday Feb 12

The England squads will be announced exclusively on TheFA.com this Saturday evening