Sheffield United's stance on five substitutions rule as England boss Gareth Southgate urges Premier League to reconsider

A temporary rule change last season, after Project Restart, allowed Premier League clubs to name nine substitutes and make five changes in a game.

Against the Blades, Manchester United made five changes at once and United believe that the rule change unfairly favoured the bigger clubs in the division, with the bigger squads and more strength in depth.

The Premier League is the only major Europea league not to continue with the five-subs rule this season, and the issue is in the spotlight again after Southgate said: "We were able to make five changes against Belgium, we made four in the end and clubs don't have that option.

"What will it take for that to change? There were a couple of less serious injuries against Belgium but what do we do? Wait until we get a load of really nasty ones?

"I have to be fair to the club managers. They are their players firstly and they have the right to play them as they see fit.

Injuries are a worry in the longer term because with no winter break, something has to give."

Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp have publicly called for a return to the five-sub rule - although, curiously, Manchester City only made two changes and Liverpool one when they met before the international break.

Stephen Bettis, United's chief executive, believes that any such rule change mid-season risks affecting the integrity of the competition.

"The 20 clubs have voted not once but twice to reject five subs," he told Sky Sports recently.

"The bigger clubs managed to find a way to have the vote held a second time - and again they lost.

"So far this season clubs playing in Europe have endured a similar workload to clubs in the Championship and we don't hear them complaining, do we?

"We remain suspicious that big clubs simply want to be able to sub off players to rest them to keep them fresh. Of course the bigger the club, the stronger the bench."

Thank you for reading this article, one of dozens we publish every single day to provide you with the best, most up-to-date and most informative coverage of YOUR club. This depth of Blades coverage costs, so to help us maintain the high-quality reporting that you are used to from the football team at The Star, please consider taking out a subscription to our new discounted sports-only package. You'll find all the details HERE. Your support is much appreciated. Chris Holt, Football Editor