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London, Jul 21 (ANI): The Football Association’s ex-Technical Director, Howard Wilkinson, is deeply concerned over the growing influx of foreign players to England, which is hurting the national team.

A whopping 79 per cent of signings made so far in the Premier League this summer are not English players, The Sun reports.

The former Three Lions caretaker boss fears a bleak future on the international front if things continue as they are in English football.

“The figures show a worrying trend for anyone who cares about the England national team and believes it still matters. Even a blind man can see that it will inevitably have major consequences for the England team,” ex-Leeds manager Wilkinson said.

“It doesn’t surprise me because this is the way it has been going - but it does concern me that it’s so high.”

Wilkinson was the FA’s technical director between 1997 and 2002 and had high hopes for England’s so-called ‘Golden Generation’.

“The pool of players we are going to have to pick from in four years’ time is going to be smaller than it was this time and in the last couple of World Cups. If you want to do well in international football, the pool of players needs to be big enough,” he said.

“Secondly, it needs to have the necessary experience of playing at the top level. I’m talking about the top leagues in Europe. Our young players will not get that in the Premier League if clubs keep signing foreign players at this rate.

“We genuinely identified this group between 1998 and 2000 as the group that could go on to achieve success in 2006 - maybe semi-finals - and be serious contenders in 2010. I don’t see us bringing together players of this quality in the same numbers,” he added.

PFA chief Gordon Taylor also called on the Premier League to start taking some responsibility for the England team. (ANI)