The Premier League will look at the possibility of
introducing a rule for clubs to include two academy graduates among
their seven-man bench.
A proposal was put before the League this summer as part of an
overall debate about substitutes but was eventually overlooked
during the sanctioning of seven replacements, an increase from the
previous five.
While there have been no in-depth discussions on the matter
since, the Premier League are still broadly supportive of the idea,
which comes as FIFA and UEFA step up their own plans for home-grown
players to provide the bedrock of all major teams.
At present, 14 Premier League clubs, a two-thirds majority,
would be needed to pass such a rule, although the proposals itself
could be made centrally.
Currently a working group within the Premier League are
formulating detailed proposals in response to UEFA's
recommendations and will make an announcement in due course.
One of the obvious drawbacks of a scheme to include academy
players on the substitutes' bench is that some clubs may have two
such men in their starting 11 but fall foul of the rule because
they do not have replacements as well.
"This is something that has been discussed in the past and may
be looked at again - but there is no fixed timetable as yet," said
a Premier League spokesman.