Gareth Southgate doing what he can with largely average players

The England squad going in to this summer's World Cup very much feels like one in transition, and it has been much documented that Southgate has opted for a youthful-looking set of players to try and improve on the Three Lions' dismal display at Euro 2016.

After that tournament, former established England players such as Wayne Rooney and Joe Hart have been ushered out of England's plans under Southgate. This step was of course necessary, and most would agree that it is crucial to let the next generation of England players have their chance.

While our youth teams have performed well in recent years, such as a win in the under-19 World Cup and three successive wins of the Toulon Tournament for the under- 21 side, it would appear that the future of English football looks bright.

However, we only have to look at the current senior squad to know that England does not posess the same squad depth as countries such as France, Germany or Brazil.

Those three nations left out huge names such as Alexandre Lacazette, Leroy Sané and Alex Sandro. Would not all three of those players walk in to the English starting lineup?

The key reason why players such as Fabian Delph and Danny Welbeck have been picked in the squad is not because they're necessarily of international quality, but that they play fairly regularly for their club sides (when not injured). That's the most we can expect from an England squad- not the best players but the players who play 15 or 20 times in a Premier League season.

For this to change, it's not down to Gareth Southgate or the FA, but English clubs. There needs to be a huge change in the culture of the Premier League. Just look at the U-21 European Championship squad which was captained by Jordan Henderson, now an established senior squad player. Players such as Tom Ince, Steven Caulker and Josh McEachran were in that squad, and have since gone on to have average careers at best. The all made the same mistake of playing well and then trying to make it at a big club, and when they had a few bad games they were axed.

If English football wants to make the most of the new generation of players such as Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Marcus Rashford and Tammy Abraham, it is essential that English club sides give them their chance to play week-in and week-out.

Otherwise, mediocre squads with the odd star player will be all England fans will ever be able to hope for.