MX23RW : Saturday, March 22 05:39:53| >> :120:11886:11886:

Harry Redknapp backs Jack Wilshere's view on England eligibility

Queens Park Rangers manager Harry Redknapp says that he backs Jack Wilshere's stance that only English players should represent England.

Queens Park Rangers manager Harry Redknapp shares Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere's view that only English players should represent the Three Lions.

The England international gave his view on the debate following manager Roy Hodgson's comments that he is tracking Manchester United youngster Adnan Januzaj.

The 18-year-old, who was born in Belgium, is eligible to compete for the Three Lions due to FIFA residency rules, while Albania and Croatia are also said to be possible options for the youngster.

While the likes of England cricketer Kevin Pietersen have waded into the debate, using non-England-born sportsmen such as Justin Rose and Mo Farah as examples, Redknapp believes that the football national team should remain English.

"I'm in Jack Wilshere's corner," Redknapp told BBC Radio Four. "There are several clubs in the Premier League now whose youth teams are absolutely full up with players who are bought in from other clubs abroad, and we'll end up with no English kids in the team.

"I'm absolutely with Jack. The English kids who go to academies at nine, eight, 10 years of age and striving to be professionals, there will be no future for them in the England team, I don't think, if we allow this to happen."

England are preparing to take on Montenegro in their penultimate World Cup qualifier on Friday.

ID:110316: cacheID:110316:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:3068:
Written by
Danielle Joynson
Restore Data
Share this article now:
FA Chairman Greg Dyke during a media conference on September 4, 2013
Read Next:
Dyke: 'English-only national team is extreme'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool29217169274270
2Arsenal291610353242958
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest29166749351454
4Chelsea29147853371649
5Manchester CityMan City29146955401548
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2814594738947
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton29121164842647
8Fulham2912984338545
9Aston Villa2912984145-445
10Bournemouth29128948361244
11Brentford29125125045541
12Crystal Palace2810993633339
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd29107123740-337
14Tottenham HotspurSpurs291041555431234
15Everton2971393236-434
16West Ham UnitedWest Ham2997133349-1634
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2975174058-1826
18Ipswich TownIpswich2938182862-3417
19Leicester CityLeicester2945202565-4017
20Southampton2923242170-499


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!