Kev: Title first then my glory

KEVIN DE BRUYNE would love to be named Footballer of the Year – but only if he can decorate the trophy with a title medal.

Manchester City’s brilliant Belgian midfielder is in the frame to land both the PFA and FWA awards after a sensational season which has highlighted Chelsea’s folly at allowing the 25-year-old to leave Stamford Bridge four years ago.

De Bruyne (above) insists he will not be driven by a desire to show his former club what they are missing when Antonio Conte’s outgoing champions visit the Etihad today.

But after Eden Hazard name-checked him as the Premier League’s top performer, it is clear that De Bruyne would take great satisfaction from becoming the first City player since Tony Book 49 years ago to win the Footballer of the Year award.

De Bruyne said: “I am not thinking about individual awards but if you are named player of the year it is a nice thing.

“I’ve got one from my time with Wolfsburg and it is a special thing because not a lot of players receive something like that.

“If you get it in the end, great — but first is the title, and then maybe you can win something like that.

“Obviously it is nice that it is voted by other players or supporters or journalists or panellists.

“If they speak about you positively it is always good.”