Coventry City duo Jordan Clarke and Nathan Cameron have not been selected for England U20's squad for the U20 World Cup in Colombia.
Faced with losing the duo for the first six weeks of the Championship season, City boss Andy Thorn whose squad thanks to the financial restraints placed on him, can hardly be seen as plentiful, spoke to England U20's boss and one time City coach Brian Eastick about the duo not being involved if they were not guaranteed to play.
Speaking to the CT, Thorn said: "They are both first team boys here and I know it is an honour for them to be involved with the U20's.
"I spoke to Brian Eastick over the summer. He was going to put them into the original squad but there was no guarantee of them if they would play and if England progress as they should do, it would mean they miss the first six weeks of the season which I wasn't prepared to let happen.
"I never stopped them from going but I was just looking for reassurances because I didn't want them sitting about and not playing, so I couldn't let them go for six weeks. Other opportunities will come up but for the present, they will stay here and concentrate on getting fit for us.
"Nathan hadn't signed at the time anyway and Clarkey ended the season really well and I think people know what I think about him, so to be without them for six weeks at the start of the season, bearing in mind the numbers we have got, we couldn't afford to let them go, end of story.
"We pay their wages and they are good lads who understand. I have spoken to them and it is not an issue with them but whoever arranges a tournament that goes into the first six weeks of the season wants their head examining."