We can't afford to lose in our own backyard

The new rules are a good idea in principle but in the week that Paul Gascoigne claimed that too many overseas stars are preventing young British players making an impact in the game, it's quite clear that clubs can live with the situation and overseas players taking the place of home grown talent will continue.

Gazza said in an interview with the Chronicle: "Bringing the foreigners in has also not really gave some of the kids too much chance to develop.

"Sometimes when they get close, they're nearly there and then teams go and sign a player from abroad for £18m.

"They then end up in the lower leagues, get disheartened and stop playing."

Perhaps one idea would be that eight English players - or home grown - must be named in a Premier League match day squad.

That would certainly stop the Chelseas and the Arsenals of the world naming squads that contain no English players at all.

Or maybe the other direction to go is to name a limited number of foreign imports per match day squad.

Either way, it could pose problems.

We now live in a different world to when overseas players were rare in the English game and rules and regulations that deny the employee of a football club a chance to play is discrimination in the eyes of the European Commission.

FIFA have already had their say on this.

Two years ago Sepp Blatter backed such a quota plan, which would limit the foreigners in a team (ie starting XI) to five, and wanted it to be in place by 2012/2013 before this was deemed illegal.

Back then an EU spokseman said: "The implementation by Fifa of this proposal in the European Union would violate EU law."

Whatever way you look at it, it's a huge can of worms and bringing in a 25 man squad rule has already proved it cuts no ice when you look at the big picture (wow two cliches there for the price of one).

On a serious note and from a Newcastle point of view, you have to say Gazza has a good point.

Surely it's healthy to have the Gascoignes, Carrolls and Steven Taylors of the world coming through and pulling on a black and white shirt rather than being forced down the divisions.

Yes, it is about ability.

But the thought of an Albert Luque or a Jean Alain Boumsong standing in the way of the next big thing at Newcastle United has to be a cause for concern.

Young talented players only have a limited window of opportunity to shine.

You impress in the Academy, you move up to the reserves, you impress again and if there is availability in the first team due you get a chance.

There isn't much room for error but after last years FA Youth Cup run and the emergence of the likes of local talent like Phil Airey, Jak Alnwick, Sam Ameobi and Paul Dummett, it's been encouraging with Academy products such as Sam Adjei and Brad Inman also coming through.

Some say relegation for Newcastle had its positives, and having been through the experience you have to agree.

Andy Carroll being the ultimate example.

Had United stayed up and offered the likes of Viduka or Martins another deal, which was on the cards for the Aussie, Carroll's chances would have been limited.

Instead he scored 19 goals in the Championship and a new number 9 was born.

Ranger, Kadar and Krul - all home grown products also got their chance to shine and Ranger and Krul won long term contracts.

But what of the future, especially at Newcastle?

Personally I'd prefer to see more like Carroll come through the ranks but if the home grown rule means we see a Vuckic or a Kadar do the business, it shows that the Academy is doing its job.

In the Second Division era on Tyneside, the likes of Watson, Clark, Elliott, Howey and Thompson all came through the club.

And the modern hot-bed on Tyneside needs to be tapped into even more.

Newcastle United the club may not have won a trophy for 41 years but we DO produce fantastic Geordie footballers whether they ply their trade in black and white or end up going elsewhere.

From Beardsley to Shearer and up to the modern day in the shape of Michael Carrick - we've missed out on some top players.

The bottom line is more needs to be done to develop more English players and local talent at Newcastle United.

And if bringing through Geordie talent doesn't remain part of the fabric of the club, we really are in trouble.