Dowie tells Johnson to reject Poles

Iain Dowie today advised Andrew Johnson not to commit his international future to Poland.

The Crystal Palace manager believes it is too soon for his star striker to be thinking about anything other than the Premiership.

Johnson has played for England at junior levels but is also eligible for Poland through his family and faces a dilemma if he is called up.

The 23-year-old has been watched by both countries but Dowie recommends he keeps his options open.

"I would hold fire if I was him," said Dowie. "He needs to take his time and concentrate on getting established in the Premier League.

"If you start getting distracted by other things then your level of performance dips and you can be embarrassed at very quickly.

"If he decided to play for Poland I would back him 100 per cent.

"But I don't want him to go to Poland. I have nothing against the country, it is a beautiful place, but I am happy having him here, nurturing him and developing him."

Johnson is the Premiership's second top scorer with eight goals and has attracted Liverpool's attention, prompting speculation Rafael Benitez may bid for him in January.

Dowie said: "I am not in the business of limiting people's careers. If Liverpool come knocking it is a huge problem, but my relationship with Andrew is very good and if we are to develop this club we have to keep people like him here."