Worthing’s Karly Akehurst is dreaming of a shot at the big time after encouraging words from former England manager Glenn Hoddle.

Akehurst and Rebels team-mate Ross Treleaven were with a group of former professionals at Charlton’s training ground on Monday having trials for Hoddle’s academy.

Hoddle has set up the academy in Cadiz, in southern Spain, and his mission is to take the teenage rejects of European football and restore them to the professional game.

Although the pair have never been pros, Worthing boss Simon Colbran helped them get a trial and 20-year-old Akehurst is excited about the future.

The central midfielder said: “I had been watched a couple of times playing for Worthing and I got an invite to the trials last week.

“We did a warm-up and then went straight into a match against Charlton Athletic’s reserves.

“I put in a few tough tackles and I played for about 75 minutes in central midfield before I came off.

“There was one lad there who had played first team football for Birmingham City last season so there were some good players. It was a privilege to play alongside them.

“Glenn Hoddle spoke to me afterwards and said I did really well and also said he was really surprised no League One or Two club had been interested in me.

“That was really good to hear coming from an ex-England manager.

“He said they would keep monitoring me and hopefully I will get a call back for another trial in about three weeks.

“It’s now a case of going back to Worthing, getting my head down and working hard on my game.”

Akehurst had Albion trials as a youngster but much of his football was played at Withdean and then Worthing under co-bosses Alan Pook and Danny Bloor.

He picked up the player of the year award for the Rebels when he was 18 and this season under Colbran has been enjoying his football in Ryman division one south.

He said: “I am 100% committed to Worthing but they wouldn’t stand in my way if this came up.

“Simon is a good coach and has been great in helping set this up. He’s a quality manager and my game has come on well.”

Karly’s dad, Martin, said: “I had some feedback from my cousin who knows Hoddle, “He said Hoddle thought Karly was a Roy Keane type of player who gets stuck in and has drive.”

Treleaven also made an impression at the trials.

The striker, who is with Worthing on dual-registration forms from Eastbourne Borough, has been offered a two-week follow-up trial in Gibraltar.

Colbran said: “Ross did really well in the game and they want to have another look at him.”

Hoddle, who was capped 53 times for England and was arguably the most gifted player of his generation, has already had success with the academy.

Ikechi Anya, 21, who was released by Wycombe Wanderers at 19 but signed a two-year deal in July with Sevilla, a Champions League team, after spending a year at Hoddle’s academy.

Hoddle believes Anya’s story illustrates that too many players are discarded too early but with the right coaching can be moulded into professional players.

Hoddle said after Anya was signed up: “We couldn’t have asked for a better story to illustrate what the academy is about.

“To be in amateur football one day and sign for Seville is an amazing story. It just shows you what you can do with a bit of development and being in the sunshine, in a climate where you can improve them.”