CHARLTON have moved a step closer to achieving their ambition of staging a full England international.

The Addicks have been chosen to host the under-20 match between England and Russia on February 8.

Charlton chief executive Peter Varney said: "It remains a major aspiration for the club to host an England international at The Valley and I hope this will help speed up that day."

The club are hoping there will be the added attraction for Charlton supporters of seeing two of their most promising youngsters represent England.

Stacy Long and Osei Sankofa both started for the under-20s when they beat Holland 1-0 at the Galpharm Stadium in their latest friendly.

Mr Varney said: "We are delighted to have been selected by the Football Association to host this match.

"Stacy and Osei should both feature and it will be an opportunity for them to play at The Valley for England and for our supporters to come along and support them."

Charlton staged full internationals for the first time during the summer when they hosted the three-team Unity Cup tournament between the Republic of Ireland, Jamaica and Nigeria.

The club’s staff had to deal with numerous issues that were different to what they experienced at regular Premier League home games, and had to do it three times in six days.

Mr Varney was pleased with the way they coped and said afterwards he hoped the tournament would provide a stepping stone towards having a full international at The Valley.

England have previously used the ground for an under-17 match against France in December 2000 and an under-21 European Championship qualifier against Georgia in April 1997. An amateur international against Ireland was played there in 1968.

The FA has not yet announced ticket arrangements for the Russia game.