Former England coach Don Howe is confident the nation can continue producing top talent - if Premiership clubs are prepared to come to the party.

In his column for the Telegraph, Howe wrote: "Foreign players have raised the bar as far as English football is concerned and now the gauntlet has been thrown down it is up to our clubs to raise their game in terms of nurturing local talent.

"It can be done. Players like Rooney will rise to the top thanks to their natural flair but they still need coaching. The Middlesbrough Academy manager Dave Parnaby, who used to coach Michael Owen as an England schoolboy, has certainly done a great job on Teesside and his club have an enviable record in terms of developing their own players.

"For me, the Football Association have a crucial role to play in terms of working with clubs to ensure coaching standards of the highest order if young English players are to fulfil their potential."