Ronald Koeman has insisted the best response Ross Barkley can make to his England omission is to produce performances for Everton that will leave Sam Allardyce with no option but to pick him.
After being an unused substitute for England at Euro 2016 under Roy Hodgson, Barkley was left out of new manager Allardyce's first squad, for the 2018 World Cup qualifier in Slovakia last weekend.
When asked about that ahead of his side's league trip to Sunderland on Monday, Toffees boss Koeman said: "Let's talk about Everton, because we are now behind, after the international break.
"What he needs to do is to play good football, to show his qualities and show Big Sam every weekend that he needs to select the player. That is the best answer for the player by himself.''
Barkley -- holder of 22 senior England caps -- has been just one of those to shine in what has been an encouraging opening made by Everton in their first term under Koeman's management. Their three league games to date have yielded seven points, taking them up to fourth in the table.
And Koeman, who left Southampton to take charge at Everton in June, is pleased with how things have been shaping up so far during his tenure.
"I'm very happy with the squad,'' he said. "Disappointed about our last target [Moussa Sissoko], but overall happy because the club did really a good job in the transfer window and the team is stronger than it was in my opinion.
"I am impressed by the whole spirit in the team. I think the new signings that we brought in showed a very fast adaptation to the team, to the rest of the players. Overall, it is very good.''