Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has backed up Greg Dyke's claims about the England national team and called for a cap on foreign players to be introduced.
The former England international believes that the national team is suffering as a result of the lack of players currently featuring regularly at their clubs.
Ferdinand formally retired from international duty in May of this year, citing it as the right time to step aside and let younger talent have their chance.
Speaking to the Mail on Sunday he said: "Having so few English
players in the Premier League diminishes the English team, of course it
does.
"If you look at it and ask whether there should be a stipulation that you have a minimum number of players who are English, even just in your squad, I think that should happen."
The lack of English players at top clubs was described earlier this week by Dyke as being "frightening" and Ferdinand has also hit out at the recent meeting between Manchester City and Newcastle as an example of the problem.
He said: "Look at the Manchester City game recently against Newcastle. There was barely an English player on the pitch, three out of 22 starters. That is a disgrace."
Roy Hodgson's England team face a crunch match in Ukraine this week, after a 4-0 win against Moldova put them temporarily top of Group H.
The former England international believes that the national team is suffering as a result of the lack of players currently featuring regularly at their clubs.
Ferdinand formally retired from international duty in May of this year, citing it as the right time to step aside and let younger talent have their chance.
"If you look at it and ask whether there should be a stipulation that you have a minimum number of players who are English, even just in your squad, I think that should happen."
The lack of English players at top clubs was described earlier this week by Dyke as being "frightening" and Ferdinand has also hit out at the recent meeting between Manchester City and Newcastle as an example of the problem.
He said: "Look at the Manchester City game recently against Newcastle. There was barely an English player on the pitch, three out of 22 starters. That is a disgrace."
Roy Hodgson's England team face a crunch match in Ukraine this week, after a 4-0 win against Moldova put them temporarily top of Group H.
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