Source: Team_Talk
McLeish 'worried' for English game
But the Birmingham boss defended the right of managers to be able to pick players of any nationality at first-team level.[LNB]Arsenal won 4-1 at Fratton Park on Wednesday evening to bolster their push for the Premier League title but there was not a single English-qualified player in the starting line-up of either side.[LNB]And there have been other examples of matches where the number of players available to England head coach Fabio Capello has been minimal.[LNB]Former Scotland boss McLeish said: "At the end of the day, it is a worry for English football.[LNB]"But, when you are the coach of a professional team, you should be able to play the players of your choice at the top level.[LNB]"If it is top-level sport, you should be allowed to play who you want to play. There is no getting away from that.[LNB]"It is difficult to say 'you can't play someone ahead of an English player', but it is worrying in terms of the development of the English game.[LNB]"However, when I look at the England national team and the resources they have, it is frighteningly good.[LNB]"They are one of the favourites to win the World Cup next summer."[LNB][LNB]
