Must prove its worth

different opposition, of different referees – even different pitches. If one day they find themselves at a senior World Cup, the hope is that they know a little of what to expect.

Will it work? Southgate will point out that he selects from just 33 per cent of the Premier League’s players. This summer two more young Englishmen have struck out beyond their own domestic league in search of opportunity.

Noni Madueke, 16, turned down a scholarship at Tottenham Hotspur to sign for PSV Eindhoven, a club with a rich record of talent development. “I just sat down with my family and thought coming from England to the Netherlands was the best choice for my development,” he said.

Callum Hudsonodoi

Age 17

Club Chelsea Position Forward

Teenage striker was a central part of the World Cup Under-17 side and made four appearances after breaking into Chelsea’s first-team last season. ing its reward in the triumphs of various national age group teams.

This, in turn, has helped to build more of an identity and club atmosphere with England. The great frustration, though, relates to the grass roots, where the release of statistics earlier this year painted a grim picture. Following independent assessments, only one in three grass-roots pitches was deemed to be of “adequate” quality. Last season one in six matches at a grass roots or youth level was called off due to pitch quality.

These figures were published by the FA and, while they stand as a fairly damning indictment, they are

The biggest coup was the former Chelsea technical director, Michael Emenalo, now at Monaco, signing the outstanding young defender, Jonathan Panzo, 17, from Stamford Bridge. Keanan Bennetts, 19, another Spurs academy boy, has left for Borussia Monchengladbach. The path trodden by the likes of Sancho and loanees Mount (Vitesse Arnhem) and Ademola Lookman (RB Leipzig) has worked for them. Liverpool saw off interest from Monchengladbach in Rhian Brewster. Dietmar Hamann’s brother, Matthias, is now one of the many German scouts assessing English development football.

As for the FA, the Elite Player Performance Plan is seven years

old and the hope is that it will Mason Mount Age 18

Club Chelsea Position Midfielder

Has been compared to Frank Lampard – who may try to sign him on loan for Derby – after scoring 14 goals in 39 games while on loan at Dutch club Vitesse Arnhem.

now being used as part of the argument to sell Wembley Stadium. By the estimates of chief executive Martin Glenn, this would amount to a £1 billion windfall for grassroots facilities by 2030. The Save Grassroots Football campaign is also petitioning for a five per cent levy on the Premier League’s broadcast deal that would be ring-fenced for grass-roots football. This would be £400million in the latest cycle.

The Premier League currently filters back down £100million annually in solidarity payments to Football League clubs – although it is unclear how much of this helps at the lowest level – and then another produce a higher level of footballer. The senior team’s achievements at Russia 2018 have offered inspiration to a new generation who may be able to choose from different international allegiances. It is a start but when the FA looks at France, for example, there is so much ground to make up.

The process never stops. As long as the Under-19s finish in the semifinal of their Euros, they will be assured of a place at the Under-20s World Cup in Poland next year. A few bad years and the effect will be felt further down the line by the senior team. Should England seniors fail at a World Cup or Euros, then all that hard work put in at St George’s Park can be swept away by a tide of public opinion.

Nathaniel Chalobah Age 23

Club Watford Position Midfielder

Could have been part of Southgate’s plans were it not for a knee injury suffered in September that ruled the versatile former Chelsea midfielder out for eight months. £100 million on grass-roots and community projects. Other changes are also being suggested to better link club academies with their local community.

The ability now to sign children from the age of eight is widely acknowledged by those working in youth development as “a race to the bottom”. Matches involving players as young as six are watched by scouts. Huw Jennings, the academy director at Fulham, says the latest joke is that scouts will soon be organising matches between pregnant mums. Jennings wants clubs banned from signing children at eight.