The proposal will be considered by Football League clubs in a meeting at Derby's Pride Park ground on December 18 with the rule, if approved, set to take effect from the start of next season. The quota would require clubs to include at least four players "registered domestically for a minimum of three seasons prior to their 21st birthday" in their 16-man match-day squads.

Football League chairman Lord Mawhinney said: "We believe it is time for the Football League to make a clear and unequivocal statement of intent about the importance of developing young players in the domestic game."

He added: "The aim is to establish this principle by setting a threshold that our clubs can accommodate and then to consider raising that level over time.

"It is important we demonstrate that, as a body of clubs, our commitment to youth development is total.

"Therefore, not only are we pulling out all the stops to develop these young players in the first place, we are also ensuring that they have the opportunity to show their talent in the first team.

"Fourteen of the 23-man England squad that beat Germany in Berlin last week were developed by youth development programmes at Football League clubs. Looking ahead, we want to increase that proportion even further."