Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez will not participate for Mexico at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
The 23-year-old, who will be 24 when the Games begin on 27 July, has struggled in his second season with the Premier League champions, and manager Sir Alex Ferguson insisted the former Chivas de Guadalajara goalscorer was in need of a rest.
"His form last season was fantastic," the United boss said. "He’s found the second year more difficult, but a lot of that is down to not having a summer break for three years and playing every summer for his country.
"Next year he will be fine as we have agreed with the Mexican Football Association that he is going to get the requisite rest that he needs to perform in the Premier League."
HERNANDEZ 2010/11
Hernandez had initially been called up for the Olympics to occupy one of the three slots permitted for players aged over 23.
The last of Mexico’s three group games is on 1 August, meaning he would have been well shy of the 28 days’ rest Ferguson prefers his players to have in the close season.
Hernandez played at the 2010 World Cup before featuring for his country in their successful 2011 Gold Cup campaign, where he was top scorer and voted "Most Valuable Player".
He has scored an impressive 23 goals from 34 games with El Tricolor, including two at the 2010 South Africa finals against France and Argentina.
HERNANDEZ SCORES AGAINST FRANCE
Nicknamed "Chicharito", the Mexican was signed from Chivas in April 2010 for £6m and scored 20 goals in an impressive 2010/11 debut campaign with United.
He struck on his first appearance against Chelsea in the Community Shield and went on to hit a number of crucial goals as United achieved a record 19th English league title.
But this season Hernandez has scored just 12 times and seemingly fallen behind Danny Welbeck in the pecking order to start alongside Wayne Rooney in attack.