ONLY 1 IN 4 PREM STARTERS IS ENGLISH,

ENGLAND boss Thomas Tuchel admitted his stars face a huge battle after it was revealed just 24.3 percent of starters in the Premier League are eligible to play for England.

- JOHN CROSS

The percentage had been between 30 and 33 percent in the past few years and was often raised by former boss Gareth Southgate as a concern.

It has dropped to a record low this season, with more big-name foreign signings and fewer homegrown players graduating from academies into first teams.