Gareth Southgate has hinted that he will not select Liverpool's Raheem Sterling for his England squad for this summer's European Under-21 Championship finals.
Sterling shone during Liverpool's Premier League title tilt last season and has only increased in importance to the Reds since then in the wake of Luis Suarez's departure and Daniel Sturridge's injury woes.
The 20-year-old also featured in the World Cup and picked up the 2014 Golden Boy Award last month, which is a gong voted for by sports journalists from across Europe.
With his growing stature, Southgate said it might be a better idea for Sterling to sit out the tournament and have a proper rest.
"Realistically, Raheem has become a very important player for the senior team and for Liverpool," the England under-21 boss told the Daily Mail.
"There is a huge demand on him. Part of my role is looking at the development of individuals and I'm not convinced another tournament in the summer would be right for him."
Southgate, who penned a one-year contract extension with the Football Association on Thursday, pointed out that Sterling is hardly shy of experience having played at an under-17s World Cup as well as his exploits in Brazil.
The 44-year-old said he might revisit that stance if there is a change of circumstance and Sterling ends up needing games, but as things stand he is likely to be given the time off.
"Of course he is a super player and, from a selfish point of view, it would be easy to try and grab all of those, but we have to look at the bigger picture," Southgate added.
It might be a different story for Everton's Ross Barkley, though. The 21-year-old broke onto the Premier League stage in style last season, scoring memorable goals against Newcastle and Manchester City as Roberto Martinez's side challenged for a Champions League place.
He was included in Roy Hodgson's squad for the World Cup in Brazil but, after picking up an injury at the start of the season, his form, like most of Martinez's charges, has been inconsistent.
"Ross is interesting as we haven't had a chance to work with him yet," Southgate said. "He is someone myself and Roy will talk about. I will also talk to Roberto Martinez, who I get on with very well.
"The boys who have got us to this point are a tight group and I have to think about the dynamic."