Manchester City midfielder Frank Lampard believes young players should be given more opportunities at big clubs.
English football has a long history of talented young players stealing the headlines at a young age like 16-year-old Wayne Rooney after his last-minute winning goal against Arsenal and Theo Walcott's international hat-trick against Croatia at the age of 19.
But the 36-year-old believes things have changed.
"I made my West Ham debut at 17 and was a regular a year later," Lampard told The Daily Mail.
"If I was the same age now I wouldn't be anywhere near the Chelsea or Manchester City sides.
"Like the other kids I'd have had to go out on loan."
"Rio Ferdinand and I were fortunate we experienced it at a young age. But the kids these days get lost.
"There's a stagnant patch where we hear of these good players of 15 and 16 and wonder where they are at 21."
The former Chelsea man took Jose McEachran as an example, a player loaned out five times since joining the Blues.
"He had his moments but I still think he got a bit downbeat about it," added Lampard.
"From being talked up he was always having to go out on loan - and where do you go from there? if the door's shut, it can stay shut.
"Then there's the fact these young lads have to focus and keep their heads when they start to earn very good money.
"They have to realise they haven't made it just because everyone is talking about them at 18."
