Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate has questioned the leadership that exists in Premiership dressing rooms.

He said: "There aren't many leaders in football these days - we don't breed many leaders in society, so we have to try to develop people while they are with us.

"Society is different, generally. The way that kids play - they don't play out in the streets together, a lot of their time is spent in front of computers or on personal stereos or personal dvd players, so there is less communication between people generally.

"There is a lot more communication via the internet and things like that, so there is just a general change in the education of children.

"Society is changing, that is just a fact of the modern world.

"You have to develop the skills. There are some things that are brought in from your upbringing within your family and school, but you have to then continue that process and you have to develop the skills of communication and of leadership."

Southgate, of course, had his own style of leadership, and that is something he has taken into management.

A measured and quietly-spoken man, he brought a calmness to the role of captaincy where others took a more robust approach.

However, he admits even he had to hone his natural skills as he made his way in the game.

He said: "I always captained teams when I was younger and when I was a junior with Crystal Palace. But by the same token, I was quiet, like most young players when they go into the first team. But my coaches and managers encouraged me to develop those skills and, especially with the young group of players we have got, we need to keep encouraging that.

"There can be role models in all walks of life, in different occupations and in different environments, not just within football. Football gives you the obvious examples, but leadership is crucial in any team.

"You look at the successful teams, whether it is the England rugby team or the cricket team that won the Ashes a couple of years ago, and you tend to have five or six people within that group who could have captained it.

"That plays a huge role within most successful teams."