Roy Hodgson may regret telling the media that Raheem Sterling asked to be rested for England's Euro 2016 qualifier against Estonia, according to former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy.
Hodgson had said in the build-up to the 1-0 victory that he would not leave Sterling out of his team despite Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers suggesting the player needed rest.
However, Sterling was omitted from the starting lineup for Sunday's game and Hodgson revealed afterwards that the 19-year-old had asked to be rested.
That led to criticism from angry fans on Twitter, and Murphy, who played under Hodgson for three years at Fulham, told talkSPORT the manager "will regret putting it out there."
He added: "I think he could have just maybe taken it on the chin and said, 'I thought I'd give him a little breather,' rather than put it on the lad.
"He wouldn't have intentionally put it on him to create this, but I think Roy could have dealt with it differently. I'm very surprised and, if Roy could turn back the clock, I don't think he would do it and say it the way he did because he has caused Raheem a problem and he wouldn't want to do that."
Former England internationals including Rio Ferdinand and Gary Lineker have backed Sterling over the matter, and Murphy, who spent seven years at Liverpool, agrees.
"The way he plays, with that power and that speed, he gives everything and he needs to be on top of his game," he said. "If he is genuinely tired and he was honest for the team, then fair play to him.
"Let's not make it a great deal. The lad has expressed it, Roy has made the decision not to play him and we have won."
Information from the Press Association was used in this report.