Gareth Southgate has told Joe Gomez he cannot expect to play for England if he is not in the Liverpool team.
Gomez excelled for his country in last season's Nations League but lost out to Everton's Michael Keane when Southgate selected his team for Euro 2020 qualifiers against Bulgaria and Kosovo last month.
'I cannot blame him,' said the 22-year-old centre-half. 'He speaks to me and is a great manager but I have to understand that I have to play for my clubs like other players are. If you meet up with England you are expected to be playing so I have to keep working hard.
'He has spoken to me. Gareth is a great manager - as is Jurgen Klopp - and he has had words with me and I have to be patient. I have to keep pushing on and it is part and parcel of football.'
Gomez has started four games for Liverpool this season but only once in the Premier League where Joel Matip is the preferred defensive partner for Virgil van Dijk.
Southgate's policy, however, has not extended to other parts of the team. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is not starting regularly for his club but came on for England against Bulgaria ahead of James Maddison who is a fixture in the team at Leicester.
'Every footballer wants to be playing,' said Gomez. 'It's frustrating for me. At the same time I understand we are the European champions and the lads are doing well at the minute. Credit to them. All I can do is keep my head down and keep working hard.'
