Claudio Ranieri would like bigger Premier League matchday squads

Leicester City boss Claudio Ranieri would like to see Premier League matchday squads increased to 22 players to allow clubs to give youngsters more playing opportunities.

In the Italian's homeland, Serie A sides are able to name 12 substitutes on a matchday as opposed to the seven players allowed in the Premier League.

Ranieri would welcome the opportunity to pick from a wider pool of players and the 63-year-old thinks England boss Roy Hodgson could also benefit if the Premier League followed their Italian counterparts.

He said: "It happens in Serie A, why not England?

"It is a good opportunity for the young players. You would have an opportunity to put the 17-year-olds or 18-year-olds on the pitch.

"I could choose Joe Dodoo or Ben Chilwell and other young players.

"It is good for him, and it is also good for English football - 11 on the pitch, 11 on the bench. You pay 25 players. If the squad is 25 players, why only 18 go in the squad?

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"The league here is very long, there are so many matches. I think we could improve on teams only having seven players on the bench. Why not 11? We can bring a lot of players to the bench and choose between them.

"Leicester has very good young players. It is important you can choose. If the squad is 25 players, why only 18 go in the squad? Twenty two could be better, in my opinion."

Leicester host Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday and Ranieri could hand Gokhan Inler his full debut after the Swiss midfielder's impressive showing in the European Qualifier against England in midweek.