Premier League chief Richard Scudamore has hit back at critics blaming the competition for England's demise.

After the failure of England's youth teams this summer, the focus is on Premier League clubs and their development of local talent.

Premier League chief executive Scudamore said: "That's nonsense, absolute nonsense.

"There are 210 players in the Premier League who are qualified to play for England.

"We ought to be able to find 11 players to do well. After all these players are playing week in, week out against the world's best talent.

"There are other factors why England teams have not performed well at tournaments this summer, which are not our responsibility.

"Our responsibility is to ensure the youth development systems in this country are as good as they can be.

"We are starting to see more English qualified people come up through the academies.

"More took part in first teams last season and there are more English players being registered. The tide is turning. Our youth systems are working better.

"An awful lot of factors go into whether you are successful at a tournament or not."