ENGLISH NUMBERS FALL

GARETH SOUTHGATE has hit out at Premier League clubs after English football hit an all-time low.

Southgate insisted it was “incredible” that just 54 English players – 24.5 per cent – started Premier League games at the weekend. It is the first time ever it has dropped below 25 per cent. The average this season stands at 29.1 per cent but it was 71 per cent when the Premier League started in 1992.

England boss Southgate said: “It is incredible. It was a 33 per cent average last season, then it went below 29 and this weekend it was below 25 per cent for all of the teams.

“Nobody can tell me that if players are good enough, they will come through. That is not true. There are plenty of players who are good enough.”