antthe
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- Sep 15, 2006
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Matthew Etherington has admitted Tottenham's reliance on foreign talent forced him to leave White Hart Lane.
The winger, now with West Ham, found his route into the first-team blocked by Christian Ziege, who Etherington feels was always selected ahead of him regardless of form.
The ever-increased number of overseas players in the Premier League has been highlighted as a reason for England's failings on the international stage.
And Etherington claims he had little option but to seek a fresh challenge after being unable to force his way into former England manager Glenn Hoddle's plans at Spurs.
"That's probably the main reason I left Tottenham. I had Christian Ziege in front of me and if he was fit he was playing, Glenn Hoddle more or less told me that," said the 26-year-old.
"That was fair enough - he was a German international - but I had a spell where I played about 12 games in a row and had done well, we were in the top three, and then he came straight back into the team.
The winger, now with West Ham, found his route into the first-team blocked by Christian Ziege, who Etherington feels was always selected ahead of him regardless of form.
The ever-increased number of overseas players in the Premier League has been highlighted as a reason for England's failings on the international stage.
And Etherington claims he had little option but to seek a fresh challenge after being unable to force his way into former England manager Glenn Hoddle's plans at Spurs.
"That's probably the main reason I left Tottenham. I had Christian Ziege in front of me and if he was fit he was playing, Glenn Hoddle more or less told me that," said the 26-year-old.
"That was fair enough - he was a German international - but I had a spell where I played about 12 games in a row and had done well, we were in the top three, and then he came straight back into the team.