Teenage striker Wayne Rooney needs a break and should not be picked for England's friendly in South Africa on May 22nd, according to Everton manager David Moyes.
Moyes called on England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson not to take the talented 17-year-old, who has taken club and country by storm in his debut season, on the end-of-season trip.
"The boy has had an awful long season and I think it would be wrong for him to go to South Africa," Moyes told BBC Radio.
"He's done remarkably well and I can only tell you that we watch him train every day and I think if they want the best from him in the European championship qualifiers I think it would be better to give the boy a break.
"In no way are we trying to keep him away from it. We're just trying to be honest and tell people how it is. Sven is well aware of how I feel but obviously the England manager will make his decision."
Earlier, Eriksson, who names his squad for the game on Monday, had told the same programme that Rooney's inclusion was likely.
Eriksson this week hailed Rooney as his young player of the year following his meteoric rise that has already brought three England caps and a collection of superb goals for Everton.
Rooney became England's youngest international when he made his debut against Australia aged 17 years and 111 days in February but it was his superb performance against Turkey in a Euro qualifier in April that suggested he is likely to be an integral part of England's short and long-term plans.