Etherington: Foreign fear

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Matthew Etherington has admitted Tottenham's reliance on foreign talent forced him to leave White Hart Lane.

The winger, now with West Ham, found his route into the first-team blocked by Christian Ziege, who Etherington feels was always selected ahead of him regardless of form.

The ever-increased number of overseas players in the Premier League has been highlighted as a reason for England's failings on the international stage.

And Etherington claims he had little option but to seek a fresh challenge after being unable to force his way into former England manager Glenn Hoddle's plans at Spurs.

Disheartening

"That's probably the main reason I left Tottenham. I had Christian Ziege in front of me and if he was fit he was playing, Glenn Hoddle more or less told me that," said the 26-year-old.

"That was fair enough - he was a German international - but I had a spell where I played about 12 games in a row and had done well, we were in the top three, and then he came straight back into the team.

"I was only young, 19 or 20, at the time but it is kind of disheartening when you know you are doing your best week in, week out and then Christian would just come straight back in.

"It happened time and time again so that's why I had to move to West Ham to get a chance, and now I'm playing week in, week out and doing relatively well."

Exceptional

Etherington accepts that overseas players have had a positive impact on the Premier League, but believes that talented English youngsters are paying the price.

He added: "The foreign players help the game and the supporters love to watch the best players, but if you're an English player coming through it definitely holds you back.

"You see fewer and fewer lads coming through the Premier League now. You've got to be exceptional to do that."