Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini admitted this summer's World Cup finals might come too early for Adam Johnson after seeing him snatch a precious point at Sunderland.
The 22-year-old winger came off the bench to deny his hometown club a vital three points with an audacious injury-time equaliser after Kenwyne Jones had nodded Sunderland in front.
Johnson, who spent much of his formative years in the shadow of England international Stewart Downing at Middlesbrough, has made a fine start to his career in the north-west since making his £7million January move to City.
However, Mancini believes he may have to wait for his chance to join Downing on the senior international stage.
Asked if the World Cup might come too soon for Johnson, the Italian said: "Adam is a good player, but is a young player.
"I think that in the future, he will be a good player for the national team, but now I don't know.
"Maybe, but I don't know, I don't decide. I think the England national team has a good manager and he knows very well Adam Johnson and he will decide."
