Ben Gibson has claimed that he knew he would lose his place in the England squad following Middlesbrough's relegation to the Championship.
The 24-year-old received his first senior call-up in March but has been left out of Gareth Southgate's two England squads since Boro dropped out of the Premier League.
Gibson acknowledges that his decision to stay at the Riverside Stadium would work against his chances of getting back into contention for the Three Lions.
"Everyone knows how football works," Gibson told Sky Sports News. "I knew it was going to be difficult [to get picked for England] once I decided to stay at Middlesbrough in the Championship and that's the way it has been.
"I'm not focusing on that. I'm focusing on achieving with Middlesbrough, getting back up that table to where we belong.
"Everyone dreams of getting into the squad and playing for England at the World Cup. It's difficult but that's part and parcel [of the situation]. I'm dealing with the here and now. I'm trying to get out of the Championship with Middlesbrough."
Boro currently sit eighth in the table, five points off a playoff spot.
