The saviour of English football turns out to be a long-haired Argentinian who tripped Michael Owen to give away the penalty that David Beckham converted in the 2002 World Cup finals. Mauricio Pochettino, 43, who has long since lost the flowing locks in favour of something a little more in keeping with his managerial status, has gathered a considerable reputation since arriving in England just over two years ago. It is not just his coaching which is admired. He is also becoming the manager for whom young Englishmen wish to play, as exclusive research by The Mail on Sunday proves. Mauricio Pochettino could be the saviour of English football thanks to his faith in homegrown talent . The Argentine has gathered a considerable reputation since arriving in England just over two years ago . Andros Townsend (second left) celebrates his goal for England alongside his young Tottenham team-mates . In the week in which four of his young Tottenham players — Harry Kane, Andros Townsend, Ryan Mason and Kyle Walker — all played for England, Mason has paid tribute to the impact the Argentine has had on the English game. A year ago an England debut was the last thing on Mason’s mind. After spending the previous season on loan at Swindon and unused by Tottenham, he feared he would have to leave the club. ‘I was in the last two years of my contract and getting to that age when if it didn’t happen this season, I probably would look to leave,’ said Mason. But, when Tim Sherwood was replaced by Pochettino, 23-year-old Mason had reasons to be cheerful. ‘At the start of the season I was looking forward to it because of what the gaffer did at Southampton and his record of bringing young players through,’ he said. (Left-right) Ryan Mason, Kyle Walker, Townsend and Harry Kane celebrate in the game against Italy . Mason made his debut for England against Italy in midweek after breaking into the Spurs team this season . Which managers have the most faith in young, English talent? The Mail on Sunday looked at Premier League clubs in the past three years (since the start of the 2012-13 season) to see where homegrown talent was getting the most opportunities to play. After counting the amount of League starts handed out by each manager to English players aged under 23, the percentage of each manager’s total starting selections shows that Mauricio Pochettino (below), of active bosses, backs young talent most. This table shows the top 10 and bottom six managers (out of 42), showing their total player selections and games, and the percentage of all starters who fit our ‘young and English’ criteria. And three Chelsea managers make up the bottom three. Pochettino’s record of sticking by English players such as Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana and Jay Rodriguez, and backing youngsters such as Luke Shaw, Calum Chambers and James Ward-Prowse in the Southampton first team, struck a chord with Mason and his peers. The Argentine is a godsend for FA chairman Greg Dyke, whose commission is attempting to find ways to nudge more managers into playing their young English players rather than rely on often mediocre, imported talent. ‘He is honest and picks the team on how you’re training,’ said Mason of his manager. ‘And if you are in the team and doing well then you’re staying there. It’s brilliant for young players as he gives you that opportunity.’ Mason, Kane and Walker were quick to congratulate their team-mate Townsend on scoring England’s spectacular equaliser in the 1-1 draw with Italy. Only Walker is not from the Spurs academy, having joined from Sheffield United at 19. Mason’s girlfriend, Rachel, has had a copy of the Turin celebration photo framed for his living room. Another man who enjoyed Pochettino’s support may soon be joining those four in the England squad. Ward-Prowse, 20, who scored the winner for England Under 21s against Germany on Monday and who should be a key player at the European Championship this summer, is likely to be promoted to the senior squad when that tournament in the Czech Republic is over. James Ward-Prowse (right) of Southampton could be another to soon join them in the England squad . England boss Roy Hodgson admitted 20-year-old Ward-Prowse is another player currently in their thoughts . Ryan Mason’s parents missed his England debut as high winds caused their flight to Italy to be cancelled. They made a failed last-minute dash to get to the match via Germany but didn’t make it to Turin in time. Spurs’ Mason, who plays at Burnley today, said: ‘They were devastated.’ ‘We like him,’ said England manager Roy Hodgson. ‘We’ve kept our hands off him simply because of the Under 21s but we know he’s a big prospect and the moment he comes back from the Czech Republic he’ll be very much in our thoughts.’ Mason believes more youngsters would come through if managers were willing to take a chance on the likes of him. ‘The Germans and Spanish are not better than us technically,’ he said. ‘But they get given the opportunity younger in their league, so they get the chance to come and play in the Premier League. I understand there is a lot of pressure on managers to get instant results. But English players know the league. And there is plenty of talent out there. If English players can start coming through it will benefit our national team.’ It should also benefit the clubs, especially the elite. With the majority of the world’s best players emerging from South America, Spain and Germany, those players are likely to aspire to play for Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich. Premier League clubs cannot expect to match those European giants unless the English game produces a foundation of top talent. But The Mail on Sunday research demonstrates just which clubs and, more importantly, which managers are prepared to take a risk on young English talent. The acid test is whether a manager will start a player in a Premier League game. Using that criterion and then listing which managers have started with English players under the age of 23 in the past three seasons, Pochettino emerges as the champion of the English among current Premier League bosses. Norwegian Ole Gunnar Solskjaer did his bit during his admittedly unsuccessful time at Cardiff. But two Scottish managers, Alan Irvine and Malky Mackay, also feature high in our league table, as does Northern Irishman Brendan Rodgers and, perhaps surprisingly, Portuguese Andre Villas-Boas. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer did his bit for homegrown development during his unsuccessful time at Cardiff . Former West Brom boss Alan Irvine also did before his dismissal at The Hawthorns . When the figures are broken down club by club, Southampton, Liverpool and Arsenal are top of the league, with Chelsea bottom. In fact, Chelsea have not started an under 23 player qualified to play for England since Ryan Bertrand and Sam Hutchinson played on the last day of the 2011-12 season against Blackburn, a few months before they turned 23. Because of the lack of English youngsters available to them, Chelsea managers Jose Mourinho, Rafael Benitez and Roberto di Matteo are bottom of the managerial table. Perhaps the emergence of Patrick Bamford, on loan at Middlesbrough, or highly rated Dominic Solanke will change that next term. Patrick Bamford is currently on loan from Chelsea at Championship side Middlesbrough . Dominic Solanke is another player impressing at England youth level in Chelsea's setup . The irony is that Chelsea have the best youth set-up in the country, having won the FA Youth Cup three times in the past five years — and they are in the final again this year. Manuel Pellegrini is also near the bottom of the managerial table. Jack Rodwell, now at Sunderland, is the only Englishman under 23 Pellegrini has ever fielded during his time at Manchester City. But the issue is clearly more complex than simply pointing the finger at foreign-owned, big-spending clubs. Stoke City, owned by one of England’s most passionate supporters in Peter Coates, are near the bottom of the table, as is Hull City manager Steve Bruce. So quite where Mason and his like would be without Argentinian support is open to question. Pochettino, it appears, is already doing more to change the culture of English football than any commission or directive.
Mauricio Pochettino has gathered a considerable reputation in England . Tottenham boss brought through the likes of Harry Kane and Ryan Mason . The Argentine manager is a godsend to FA chairman Greg Dyke . Sportsmail reveal which managers have most faith in young, English talent .