Jermain Defoe believes that the game in England needs to change to safeguard the future of the national team.

The 32-year-old feels that young English players are not being given a chance to prove themselves, especially in the Premier League, as clubs have searched abroad for a quick fix for their problems.

Defoe, who is playing for MLS outfit Toronto FC, told The Mirror: "The thing with kids nowadays is that they watch so much football, you can go over the park and see little kids and some of the things they can do with the ball. For young kids to have that sort of gift and drop out of the game is heartbreaking.

"Clubs go out and buy players from abroad and these kids drop out of the game. You look at them and think, you're more than good enough to at least get a chance but it's difficult. Something has to got to change.

"I'm not the first one to say that, I suppose it's well-documented and things have got to change because at the end of the day it's about our national team one day going to a major tournament and actually winning it. We're such a great footballing nation but something has to got to change."

Former Tottenham Hotspur and Portsmouth striker Defoe scored 19 goals in 55 England appearances.