Sheffield United legend Brian Deane says England stars should be playing abroad.

Deane feels the national team would benefit from such a development.

"If you're a player in England and you get the opportunity to go abroad, you should try it," Deane, who signed for Benfica for £1million in 1998 aged 30, told the Daily Mail.

"Unfortunately, because the English league pays so well, you don't really get many players trying their hand. I think that affects the national team. We don't have any players bringing anything different. Everybody plays here.

"There's a really small pool of players to choose from at the top clubs. It must be really hard for Roy Hodgson if he's picking players for his England squad and they're not regulars in their team.

"Until we get more players playing abroad we'll always be pretty much one dimensional when we get to tournaments."

Deane is now coaching in Norway with Sarpsborg 08.