Fabio Capello has urged Andy Carroll to alter his lifestyle in order to fulfil his potential for England and Liverpool.
The £35m January signing from Newcastle United was selected by Capello for the Euro 2012 qualifiers with Bulgaria and Wales, but he did not feature in Sofia due to reported concerns over his fitness levels.
"His style of life is a problem because you need to be careful," Capello said on Sky Sports News. "He is an important player not only for the England team but also for Liverpool.
"It is a private message. I have spoken with him and it was a private discussion between two people.
"I think he understands a lot. He is young, we need to help him and speak to him, because he is a really important player."
Capello handed Carroll his full international in November of last year against France.