Sean Dyche has criticised the Football Association's proposed England DNA programme and feels that it will damage the progress of young players.

The DNA scheme is an initiative to improve the prospects of the national team, but the Burnley manager feels that young players are being pampered far too much from an early age.

"It's diluting to get this elitism," Sky Sports News quotes Dyche as saying. "We know they're going to get enhanced coaching and better facilities at almost every level but you can't get so drunk on it that you forget about the passion, pride, belief, desire and will.

"When you get these elitist groups sometimes the rawness of a player is lost and I think they've got to understand that. They get treated unbelievably well. Sometimes, farcically well. You get a 14-year-old needing a rub down before training. I can't accept that.

"I spoke to an eight-year-old who told me he had done his hamstring. I said, 'I can't believe you know what your hamstring is, son. Now go out there and get running.' People might say it's an archaic view but I think the moral fibre of footballers is as relevant now as it's ever been."

England manager Roy Hodgson and Under-21s coach Gareth Southgate have both pledged their support to the initiative.