Brendan Rodgers is happy for Daniel Sturridge to join up with England next week - but he will tell the Football Association the striker is not ready to play in both the upcoming Euro 2016 qualifiers against Estonia and Lithuania.
England manager Roy Hodgson names his squad for the final two qualification games on Thursday.
When fit, Sturridge has been a key part of Hodgson's plans, so it would come as a big surprise if he did not pick the Liverpool forward, who scored twice on his first start of the season against Aston Villa last weekend.
Rodgers would have no qualms with Hodgson if he selected the 26-year-old, but given that he has just come back from a five-month injury lay-off, the Liverpool manager feels his star striker must be used sparingly.
England play against Estonia at Wembley on October 9 before flying to Lithuania three days later, and Rodgers feels it would be too much to ask the player to feature in both games.
"Not at the moment, no," Rodgers said when asked if Sturridge could play two games in four days.
Rodgers and Hodgson have not enjoyed the best of relationships over the course of the last year.
The Liverpool manager was annoyed with his England counterpart for revealing Raheem Sterling said he was too tired to start the reverse fixture against Estonia this time last year.
And Rodgers blamed the England coaching staff for the thigh injury Sturridge suffered while on international duty last September.
The Northern Irishman plans to speak to Hodgson about Sturridge's fitness this week, and he appears relaxed on the idea of the former Chelsea man joining up with England at St George's Park next Tuesday.
"The guys with England are intelligent enough and will understand and I am sure at some point we will have a conversation before they meet up," Rodgers added.
"I don't necessarily speak so much with the international managers. When players go away I let them deal with it. They are highly-qualified professionals who work at that level.
"In Daniel's case it is probably worth me noting to the FA where he is at in this period of his fitness.
"He is a player who is coming back (from injury) and Roy and his staff are intelligent enough to see that and I am sure him being in the squad will be managed accordingly."
England have already qualified for France 2016 after winning their first eight qualifiers, but Hodgson is loathe to experiment with his personnel for the Lithuania and Estonia games.
That said, he will be forced to make some changes.
Jack Wilshere, Jordan Henderson and Fabian Delph are out through injury while there are doubts about the fitness of Michael Carrick too.
That leaves Hodgson short in midfield. Jonjo Shelvey could retain his place in the squad and Tottenham's Ryan Mason may be included if he overcomes a knee injury.
Uncapped Swansea midfielder Jack Cork is also reported to be under consideration.
With Luke Shaw out due to a broken leg, the door could open for either Danny Rose or Ryan Bertrand to challenge Kieran Gibbs for the left-back spot.
Hodgson will be looking to see John Stones add to his collection of six caps, provided he has recovered from a knee problem.
Manchester United defender Phil Jones is also available again after recovering from a blood clot in his calf.
Source: PA
