Former England star Steve Hodge has backed The FA's initiative to bring smaller pitches and goal-posts to junior football.

The ex-Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa and Spurs midfielder, who played in the World Cup of 1986, was put through his paces along with other junior football coaches on a specially-made pitch to emphasise the challenges made to youngsters on over-sized pitches.

And Hodge, who coaches at Forest's Academy, was left in no doubt that the moves to change the way English kids play the game can only be a good thing.

He said: "I thought that was very hard. I was looking up for my team-mates and wondering 'where are they?'"

"You can't quite see them because they're so far away. It's a big pitch and kicking the ball a long way was really hard work."

Hodge and his fellow coaches were being questioned on the matter by U11s striker Imogen, who watched the match on the over-sized pitch at St. George's Park.

And after seeing fully grown adults struggle with the super-sized goalposts and pitch perimeter, Imogen had no trouble in convincing Hodge that the new guidelines are a step in the right direction.

"I think The FA are spot on," he added. "I think they've got it right with the kids, because that pitch is too big for you and me.

"They've done the right thing with the smaller pitch, you can get more touches of the ball, enjoy the game more and play it more."

Watch the full video feature with Imogen and the coaches on the super-size pitch in the Media Gallery above.

See more videos about the changes in Kids' Football by clicking here.