Gareth Southgate has attempted to defuse a potential club-versus-country row by holding clear-the-air talks with Liverpool about Adam Lallana’s injury.
Lallana faces up to four weeks on the sidelines with a thigh problem sustained during England’s World Cup qualifying win over Lithuania last weekend.
The injury is the second the Reds midfielder has suffered this season and also occurred after representing his country, following a groin setback in November.
Jurgen Klopp is already braced to be without Lallana for Liverpool’s Premier League double header with Everton and Bournemouth in the next six days.
In spite of losing one of his side’s biggest on-field influences, the German is understood to have remained relaxed about England’s handling of the player.
But Southgate rang the Liverpool manager about Lallana in efforts to preserve the already good working relationship between the club and the national side.