Roy Hodgson says he will find it increasingly hard to pick Andros Townsend for England unless he starts to play regular first-team football at Tottenham.
This time last year Townsend shot to stardom with a stunning goal on his debut in England's vital 4-1 win over Montenegro.
Spurs, fearing interest from other clubs, quickly handed the winger an improved contract, but a series of injuries wrecked the 23-year-old's season, and he has struggled to earn a regular first-team slot this term under new manager Mauricio Pochettino.
Hodgson stuck by Townsend, recalling him for the matches against Norway and Switzerland after he was forced to miss the World Cup with an ankle injury, and he has been named in the 21-man party for the upcoming Euro 2016 qualifiers against Estonia and San Marino.
The England boss remains a huge admirer of Townsend but the Tottenham midfielder, like the rest of his England teammates, will find his place in the squad under threat if he fails to break into Pochettino's team.
"Pochettino at the moment has decided he doesn't want to use [Townsend], which is fine by me, but like all players, he runs the risk that the less you play, it does get harder and harder for me to keep faith with players," Hodgson said.
"The players have to understand that for me to pick them, they do need to be impressing in some way because I can't keep faith forever in players who are not getting a game. They've got to get some games."
The good news for Townsend, who could play some part in the qualifier against San Marino next Thursday, is that some of his midfield colleagues -- like Jack Wilshere, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner -- have struggled at times to get first-team football too.
"Townsend has played almost 400 minutes of football this year, which actually puts him in the upper bracket of players with minutes played, which is quite surprising," Hodgson added.
Another plus point for Townsend is that Hodgson regards him as a "goal-scorer" and a "good distance-shooter" -- which is good news for the speedy Spurs man as the England manager admitted earlier this week that he is concerned by a lack of goals from his midfielders.
"I've kept faith with him because of his qualities," Hodgson added of Townsend. "I think he deserves another opportunity to show us again this week."
Joe Hart has also found his place at Manchester City threatened by new signing Willy Caballero.
The 27-year-old was dropped for City's win over Hull last week, and he may have to sit on the bench for Thursday's game against San Marino as Hodgson is considering selecting either Ben Foster or Fraser Forster.
"It's a thought that will definitely be researched," Hodgson said. "I don't think that goalkeepers should accept rotation doesn't apply to them."
Hart spoke of his frustration at Manuel Pellegrini's rotation system last week and Hodgson expects the goalkeeper to feel the same way if he is overlooked for next week's match against the European minnows, or the game in Tallinn three days later.
The England manager said: "If Joe Hart was rested in this game and was asked, 'Are you happy to be rested? Do you think it's a good idea?' If he said, 'Yeah, that's fine by me,' that would disappoint me.
"But he would have to understand why I'm doing it and to at least realise that it's in my right, as it was Pellegrini's right, to give someone else a go."
Hodgson included the uncapped Nathaniel Clyne and Swansea midfielder Jonjo Shelvey, who has only previously played once for his country, in his squad.
Hodgson rejected the opportunity to call up Gabriel Agbonlahor despite being down to just three fit strikers.
The England boss said the Aston Villa forward remains in his thoughts though.
"If [Agbonlahor] continues to do well for Aston Villa he might be someone we consider," Hodgson said.
England are also short in defence, but it does not appear that Hodgson gave much consideration to selecting Stoke defender Ryan Shawcross, who has not played for the national side in almost two years.
"He's a very good league player, but at the moment I think we have other players that I prefer," Hodgson said, rather bluntly.