English players make up just over third of time spent on pitch in PL: Study

A new study has revealed that English players are getting more minutes in the Premier League this season but make up just over a third of the time spent on the pitch.

The rise, from 32.36 percent of total playing time in 2013-14 to 36.08 percent until 1 October, can be solely attributed to newly promoted Burnley, who used just one non-UK player.

According to the study by BBC Sport, the second annual State of the Game study found restricted opportunities for English players at the top clubs.

State of the Game comes six months after Football Association chairman Greg Dyke announced his plan to get more English players playing in the Premier League with the ultimate aim of winning the 2022 World Cup.

Former Chelsea player Michael Woods, signed by Jose Mourinho aged 16 in a 5 million pounds deal but now 24 and playing for Hartlepool, called for an English player quota to give domestic players a chance.

But former England boss Graham Taylor said that the foreign influx could not be stopped.

The study has found that Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham and champions Manchester City used the most non-UK players in the league.

Argentines were the big movers, according to the study and they were up to the third most represented non-UK country after France and Spain, and now outnumber Welsh players in the Premier League.

The 2013-14 top eight used 44 new signings this season during the matches analysed by the study and 33 were foreigners. A quarter of the 373 foreign players in the top flight played fewer than 10 games last season.

Burnley used the most English players (13) while Chelsea, Stoke and Man City each used the least (three). In 2013-14 just five English players took part in all 38 matches, the report added.