Chris Coleman will not rush to offer Ben Woodburn a senior Wales cap to simply keep the Liverpool prodigy out of England’s clutches.
Woodburn has represented Wales at Under 15, Under 17 and Under 19 levels but was born in England and is expected to be subject of an approach by the FA to switch allegiance.
The 17-year-old would confirm his international future with a first-team appearance in a competitive game but Coleman will exact caution in his approach after experiencing a similar situation with fellow Liverpool youngster Harry Wilson in 2013.
Coleman handed Wilson his debut aged 16 years 207 days – making him the youngest Welsh international in history – against Belgium in a dead-rubber World Cup qualifier after seeing his squad ravaged by injuries.