The former England international Jermaine Jenas, who represented the nation at seven age levels, believes that the World Cup-winning Under-20s team can become the bedrock of the senior side if they seek chances to play club football abroad.
England’s qualification for the 2018 World Cup with an unconvincing win over Slovenia will re-open the debate about the Premier League limiting Gareth Southgate’s options, by failing to deliver adequate first-team football to the nation’s best young talents.
But Jenas, who has examined the England set up for a short BBC2 documentary film, said that the continental club game can provide better preparation for a future World Cup tournament than the Premier League.