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World Cup 2018: Young players must be given a chance - Cottee

The 32 show
The 32 show

Former West Ham and England striker Tony Cottee has urged thinks young players deserve to be given the chance if they are good enough.

Cottee said he believed that if players broke into the side and proved their ability, they should be given a chance in the first time.

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The former Everton and Leicester forward told Yahoo Sport’s daily show The 32: “I think in my day if you got into the team at 17, you could stay in the team. I think you could play a couple of games, you’d go out on loan somewhere.

“Harry Kane is the best example, I think he’s been on loan three, four, five clubs. He couldn’t get in at Spurs, comes in and then off he goes.

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“Harry Kane is the best example, I think he’s been on loan three, four, five clubs. He couldn’t get in at Spurs, comes in and then off he goes. But it’s very difficult for young kids nowadays.

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“You’ve also got to be careful, if you take Rooney as an example – 16, starts in the first team, you can get burnt out at 30, 31, because you’ve been in the first team for so long. I’m all for the youngsters.

“If they’re good enough, give them a chance.”