The FA have been urged to rubber stamp a set of new proposals that include forcing clubs to release all players for England duty from Under 17 level.

The governing body have been set a deadline of February 29 to introduce a wide-ranging set of Government-approved reforms in time for the start of next season.

And they have been told that they face intervention from Westminster if they do not meet the cut-off.

Get your house in order: There's no doubting the Premier League's popularity, but the Government wants changes

A key aspect of the new laws, which were set out in a select committee report on football governance, stipulates clubs must release players for England games from the Under 17s upwards.

The rule is likely to infuriate club managers, with many already feeling top players are being overworked because of the international fixture calendar.

Arsenal star Jack Wilshere was at the centre of a club-versus-country row during the summer over his involvement in the European Under 21 Championship in Denmark.

Manager Stuart Pearce eventually relented and did not pick the teenage midfielder for the tournament - but the new legislation could throw up similar scenarios in the future as club bosses try to protect their internationals from injury.

The fresh guidelines also call on the FA to work in conjunction with leagues to monitor debt levels and financial sustainability.

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