YOU have heard of young football stars like Steven Gerrard and Joe Cole, but you won't have heard of one youngster who is trying to follow in their bootsteps.

Lee Maskell, 12, is one of the latest bunch of talented youngsters to be signed up by Charlton on a four-year deal.

A signing presentation was completed before Charlton's match with Leeds at The Valley and Lee met Alan Curbishley prior to the match when accompanied onto the pitch by Steve Avery, the assistant academy director.

Lee has represented Charlton at the opening of the FA's Hall of Fame in London and was also one of the boys who attend last season's match when Charlton were presented the First Division Championship trophy.

Lee was first spotted by Charlton scouts while he was representing his primary school, St Philiomena's RC, in a six-a-side tournament held at Eltham College, when he was just nine.

When Lee and his dad were about to leave, there was a tap on the car window. It was Charlton coach Graham Harrison, who was so impressed with Lee's skills that he asked him to attend a trial the next week.

The normal route for any boy is to first attend one of Charlton's Satellite Training Centres where they are assessed prior to accepted into the academy. But Lee was signed on after a few weeks at the academy, bypassing the satellite centre.

Lee trains three times a week for Charlton and plays on Sundays. His position is centre-midfield and he models himself on a variety of the top midfielders in the professional game.

Lee said: “I base my game on West Ham's Joe Cole, Liverpool's Steven Gerrard and Roy Keane. I think they are the best players in the country.”

In February, Lee was one of six boys representing Charlton in a new programme hosted by Daley Thompson called Under Pressure.

The boys had to work in pairs and complete a obstacle course using ball skills to keep the ball from touching the ground.

Both Lee and his playing partner were interviewed by Daley before and after their trial. The programme is due to be screened sometime later this summer.

Lee has set his sights on being signed up to play for Charlton and eventually perform on the biggest football stage.

He said: “I hope to be taken on a Youth Training Scheme by Charlton Athletic when I'm 16 and, eventually, it is my dream to go on to play for England.”

Who knows, Lee might replace Joe Cole in the England team in ten years time?