3 games into a new season and player requests transfer for not being 'first choice'

He has played 2 of the 3 games, he only missed the most recent one due to fitness where his condition was still below 85% come matchday, and all of a sudden he wants to move clubs. Surely this is never right in a million years, no player can play 2 of the first 3 games in a season and decide that because he was rested for the third he clearly isn't in the teams plans. Now however, because his morale has gone through the floor it means I can't play him because he will play incredibly poorly, meaning he will lose his first team status pretty much. How are you meant to combat this though? It would seem my only option would be to send him out on crutches if I had to, just so that the next time when he is fit he is still happy to be here.