Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has urged Mario Balotelli to take heed of Italy coach Cesare Prandelli's warning.
Balotelli was left out of the squad for Italy's international friendly defeat by the United States this week with Prandelli publicly citing the player's indiscipline as a reason.
The 21-year-old striker has been sent off twice for City this season and missed eight games through suspension, although three of them were a European ban hanging over from last year.
Mancini has already asked his maverick forward to focus fully on his game for the closing months of the campaign and he hopes Prandelli's remarks reinforce the message.
Mancini said: "I think it is correct. We know that Mario is a top player but he should improve his behaviour.
"For the national team it is important. When you go to play in the European Championship and you only play three or five games, you should have good behaviour.''
Balotelli impressed as he scored the opening goal and produced a disciplined performance in the Barclays Premier League leaders' 3-0 win over Blackburn last weekend.
It is such displays that leave Mancini in no doubt about Balotelli's ability.
Mancini said: "Mario is the best Italian striker, for sure - 100%."
Balotelli has scored 13 goals in all competitions this season while fellow strikers Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko have also struck 21 and 18 times respectively.
As well as that prolific trio, City could also have the striking option of Carlos Tevez as they look to claim their first title since 1968 in the coming months.
Tevez is now back in training following the end of his dispute with the club and had a run-out with the reserves earlier this week.
But the Argentinian, who has not played for City since September and spent more than three months away without permission, is still short of match fitness.
Mancini believes the 28-year-old is at least another fortnight away from a return.
Mancini, speaking at a press conference to preview Saturday's game against Bolton, said: "I think he needs a minimum of another two weeks.
"In these two weeks it is important he plays two or three games with the reserves. He needs to play on a big pitch.
"For him it is like pre-season, after three months it is not easy to play.
"At this moment he can't play. Maybe in two weeks he could be ready."
Mancini accepted Tevez's apology for his conduct last week and says the matter is now closed.
When asked if the pair had met and put their problems aside, Mancini said: "Yes, we did everything."
Bolton manager Owen Coyle claims Manchester City and their formidable home record will not faze his struggling team.
Coyle not only remains confident his side can beat relegation but feels they are capable of springing a surprise against the Barclays Premier League leaders.
City have won all 13 of their home league matches this season and 18 in succession stretching back a whole year.
Bolton remain in the bottom three after a 3-0 defeat at Chelsea last week but that result - an 18th defeat of the campaign - has not dulled Coyle's optimism.
Coyle said: "We go into every match thinking we can win.
"We were terrific against Manchester City earlier in the season when we lost 3-2. We showed we were a threat.
"We will go there looking to be positive. We recognise the quality they have - they have won every home game in the last year and are an outstanding side.
"If you spend £350million you can build a team like that but it won't stop us going there to be positive.
"It will be difficult but all 11 of our players will be focused.
"We are not going to say we can compete with elite clubs over 38 games in the league but, on any given day, we absolutely can.
"Who's to say Saturday won't be our day? The lads are always confident."
Bolton held their own in a goalless first half at Stamford Bridge but were unable to get back into the game after conceding soon after the break.
Despite the frustration of the players, Coyle believes he saw plenty of good signs to build on in the coming weeks.
After the trip to the Etihad Stadium, the Trotters begin a run of games against other sides in the bottom half in QPR, Aston Villa, Blackburn, Wolves and Fulham.
Coyle said: "Players are always disappointed when they lose any game.
"We played very well in the first half and we looked as if we could certainly leave with a point.
"The goals we lost - as good as the finishes were from Chelsea - were self-inflicted from our own errors.
"If you give up any of those errors at a club like Chelsea there is every chance that you will be punished.
"We have been dealt, as we were at the start of the season, with the toughest fixture list of anybody.
"But that is the way it is, that is why we are in the Barclays Premier League.
"We will go there in good fettle, ready to give our best and looking to achieve that result.
"We will come out of Manchester City having played five of the top six twice.
"We will have huge winnable games ahead of us and enough points (available) to decide our own fate."
Coyle has no specific points target in mind but has no doubt in his team's ability to escape danger.
Most bookmakers have the Trotters among the three favourites for the drop but Coyle is only drawing extra motivation from the doom-mongers and critics.
He said: "We just want to make sure we have one point more than three teams below us - it is as simple as that.
"As boring and repetitive as it sounds, it is one game at a time at the moment.
"Our focus is only on Manchester City at the moment and after that we look at the next one.
"I am not worried. We are focused on our job, and that is to stay in the league.
"We are convinced we can do that. The lads are working their socks off and it will turn around very quickly.
"If people want to write us off, all good and well. It will make it even better when we show them what we have got in our locker."
