Ryan Bertrand has said he would have to be "f*****g nuts" to miss an England international with a sore throat.
Bertrand is out of the Three Lions' World Cup qualifier with San Marino on Friday, with some media outlets reporting his absence is due to the aforementioned illness.
But the Chelsea left-back clarified he has "swollen glands" in his neck and has been unwell for three days.
Bertrand made his England debut in August
His foul-mouthed outburst, although not serious, is another potential headache for his club after Ashley Cole labelled the Football Association a "bunch of twa*s" on Twitter last week.
Roy Hodgson said the youngster's "sentiment was laudable... his choice of words was wrong".
Twenty-three-year-old Bertrand has won two caps for England, having made his debut in the August friendly against Italy before coming on as a substitute in last month's qualifier at home to Ukraine.
Bertrand played all four of Team GB's games at the London 2012 Olympics and won the FA Cup and Champions League with Chelsea last season.