Jose Mourinho will appeal to England boss Gareth Southgate to go easy on Marcus Rashford in the next international break.
Southgate is due to name his Three Lions squad in around 10 days for high-profile friendly games against Germany and Brazil at Wembley, after successfully qualifying for the World Cup in Russia next summer.
Manchester United boss Mourinho is not seeking a confrontation with Southgate – but he wants the England chief to play Rashford only in the first game against Germany on November 10.
Rashford, who will celebrate his 20th birthday at the end of the month, has been nursing niggling injuries in recent weeks.
And he limped off with a twisted knee in the 1-0 Champions League group stage win against Benfica in Lisbon in midweek.
The teenager has already played 17 games for club and country so far this campaign.