Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira has welcomed the opening of England's new St George's Park.

But he warned that the FA's new national football centre will only succeed if it has the full backing of Premier League clubs.

Vieira, 36, compared it to Clairefontaine, the French national academy which has produced players of the calibre of Thierry Henry, but stressed the FA must improve their relationship with England's top sides.

Speaking in his role as an ambassador for Western Union's new PASS initiative, Vieira said: "Finally they did something because, if you look at the big nations, they all have their own "house".

"It's taken them a long time for them to realise they need a place. But it's better late than never.

"The FA have to build a relationship with the football clubs. At Clairefontaine the players were there all week and then went to play for their clubs at the weekend.

"Are the Premier League clubs ready to do that? I don't think so. At City when you are building your own facilities like we have, it's really difficult to let them go out somewhere else.

"There is a balance (to be struck). But it's never too late. The FA, the Premier League and the clubs can all work together to produce players for the national team."