The centre-back position is an area of strength in the academy. It’s a conveyor belt and the numbers on it grow by the month. 

Currently, Brad Hills, Jaden Warner, Jonathan Tomkinson, and Emmanuel Adegboyega are justifiably plying their trade in the EFL, with all of them showing potential across the season at U21 level and beyond. Another player who?s played at a tremendous level across the season is newly appointed U21 captain, Charlie Wilson. 

He’s been handed the armband due to his consistency, coupled with his communication qualities. Regan Riley had the armband earlier in the season and failed to retain it, so it speaks volumes for Charlie?s leadership credentials that he was seen as next in line. 

However, Wilson has had to go through multiple stages before earning said U21 armband, and one of those processes was as a trialist for the U18s during the second half of the 2022-23 campaign. 
He made his debut against Fulham in the U18 Premier League in March 2023. Despite a difficult debut, which ended in defeat, Norwich persisted with him a month later – away at Crystal Palace – and he performed to a good level. 

Charlie Wilson playing against Man United, at Old Trafford. Credit: @norwichcityfc

The most notable element of his game that day was his communication in the back line. Whether Norwich viewed him as a stop-gap to bring in new impetus to the U18s backline due to the team conceding a huge volume of go...