Birmingham City boss Gary Rowett defended holding back Demarai Gray for their FA Cup defeat to West Bromwich Albion.
Gray started on the bench after Birmingham rejected another bid from Bournemouth for the winger this week.
He tested Ben Foster twice after coming on in the second half and boss Gary Rowett explained he wanted to shield his star.
"I just thought it had been a big month for him, there's been a lot of speculation, it was a big game and I just wondered if it might be too much for an 18-year-old," he said.
"I thought it would have been nice to get him out of the limelight and his pace and trickery might be best served later in the game.
"I have had lots of conversations with him recently and he has never told me he wants to leave the club so I think it's one or two people trying to stir things up.
"I hope stays and he's best served being here until an opportunity comes his way which is befitting of his talent and it's only a top four team who could do that."
