MY wife hates football. But her logic could teach the Football Association a thing or two.

While I was watching Arsenal put together one of their trademark moves on ITV's Premiership show the commentary caught her ear... "Gilberto Silva on to Kanu... now its Ljungberg."

Lowering her copy of the Evening Press, she peered over the top of her glasses and said: "No wonder England don't do very well. They are all foreigners."

It is a good point. The influx of French, Brazilian, Swedish and other assorted international stars has starved our national side of resources.

Take the top four in the Barclaycard Premiership. Of the top four clubs on Saturday only 14 of the 44 players who made the starting XI were eligible to play for England.

Arsenal kicked off with three (Seaman, Campbell and Cole), Manchester United five (Ferdinand, Beckham, Scholes and the Nevilles), Liverpool four (Carragher, Gerrard, Murphy and Owen) and Chelsea two (Le Saux and Lampard).

There is no doubt that some stars from abroad have enhanced our game - both on the field and in the manager's officer. But the time has come to somehow look at limiting the foreign legion at each club. That should ensure that our brightest young talent gets a real chance to prove their worth in the Premiership and also enable players with potential in the Nationwide League to climb football's ladder.

Arsenal striker Francis Jeffers is just one example. A prolific marksman with England Under-21s, he rarely gets at sniff at Highbury as he finds his route to a first team place blocked by French stars.

Clubs will say that it is cheaper to get players from overseas but the authorities must decide whether to put the Premiership or England first.

With the Premiership awash with cash it has meant that our domestic game has managed to hang on to its stars. But do the Spanish and Italian League's really want our leading lights?

The only big name to cross the Channel in recent seasons has been Liverpool's Steve McManaman who now has a Champions League winners medal with Real Madrid tucked inside his passport.

England has provided just one European Cup winner (Man United in 1999) in the last 11 years since the ban on our clubs in the wake of the Heysel Stadium disaster was lifted.

Perhaps the Premiership simply isn't as good as it is cracked up to be - and the same applies to England.

At the moment the club v country debate is firmly weighted in favour of the helter-skelter Premiership. Nearly all the managers rattle on about how many games there are at the top level - but name one club which wants three or four less home games, therefore less income. Would fans also stand for less domestic football?

The FA will claim their hands are tied after Bosman paved the way for players to cross borders in search of work. But would chief executive Adam Crosier and his men tackle the problem anyway?

The FA give the appearance of going out of their way to avoid responsibility on a number of issues. They don't want to soil their hands weeding out hooligans who follow the national team. They seem unwilling to tackle the financial crisis seeping through the Nationwide League and don't even take the future of Bootham Crescent and York City seriously.

It is time the FA showed some firm leadership.

Making his Mark

AUSSIES will be doffing their baggy green caps to Mark Waugh, who yesterday announced his retirement from international cricket.

It leaves Yorkshire with a king-size headache as Waugh has been replaced by Darren Lehmann and looks unlikely to return to the Broad Acres next season.

With Matthew Elliott already on the payroll for next season Yorkshire chairman Geoff Cope would be advised to go for an all-rounder or a bowler, preferably one who can keep fit for a full English season.

Luckless Maguire

FORTUNE does not always favour the brave.

Top jump jockey Adrian Maguire has had to quit at the age of 31 because of a neck injury.

By common consent the finest jockey to never win the championship, the Irishman's misfortune is a reminder of the potential dangers of National Hunt racing and the bravery of its riders.

TKO was this week written by Sports Editor Martin Jarred.

Updated: 10:48 Tuesday, October 29, 2002