Friday 19 February 2016 11:03, UK
Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe has urged club-record signing Benik Afobe to think very carefully before deciding to represent Democratic Republic of Congo at international level ahead of England.
The £10m signing from Wolves told Sky Sports News HQ on Thursday he is contemplating playing for the African nation, who he is eligible to represent through his parents.
That is despite the striker's long history with England youth teams dating back more than 11 years, when he captained the U12s, before winning the Victory Shield as an U17 international.
But Afobe's club manager Howe does not want the striker to make a decision in haste, insisting the 23-year-old has every chance of earning an England call-up in the future.
"I wouldn't want him to make a decision now which he could potentially regret in a year's time or so," Howe said ahead of Bournemouth's FA Cup Fifth Round tie against Everton on Saturday.
"I think it's early days for him at Premier League level and a lot is going to change after the next tournament. You just don't know how many strikers England are going to have to pick from in the future.
"So, if I was him - and I will be speaking to him - I will say 'give yourself the very best opportunity of playing for England'.
"We'll wait and see. I don't know his thoughts and feelings about it I haven't spoken to him.
"But I will lend him my thoughts and advice because he is very young. I think that's the key thing here. If he was 27 or 28 and thinking differently then I would understand why he'd maybe look elsewhere but he is still very young and he has got his best years ahead of him."
