Roy Hodgson has instructed Wilfried Zaha to continue running at opposition defenders, even if it means the Crystal Palace forward remains a target.
Palace on Saturday visit Watford, where a further three points would take them even closer to preserving their Premier League status.
He was last season the division’s most fouled player, and in the 2-2 draw at Bournemouth earlier this month again became frustrated at the many challenges he was confronted with.
Watford’s supporters have long been vocal of their dislike for Zaha, who has significant history against their team which includes a booking for diving in a 1-1 draw at Vicarage Road in December 2016.
During that game Watford mascot Harry The Hornet also dived and pointed at the 25-year-old, but even at the risk of further tension, Hodgson does not want him to change his game.
“We want Wilf to have the ball, to do what he’s good at doing – beating players and running towards the opponents’ goal,” said the Palace manager.
“If that means the opponents foul him then he’s fairly used to that. We’ll have to accept that the referee will then need to take any necessary measures if he thinks the fouls are going behind the pale.
“The players who run with the ball and who are so good at running with the ball with such quick feet as Wilf has, I’m afraid are going to be the ones that draw the fouls. I know he gets fouled a lot, because when we play the ball to him he holds onto it and beats people.
“I’m not particularly aware that teams are targeting him to foul him, and if they are, one has to rely upon the referee to do something about that. There’s nothing we as coaches can do about that.”