DE BRUYNE: I DESERVE THE TOP AWARD

KEVIN DE BRUYNE reckons he should be Footballer of the Year despite Mo Salah’s incredible

37-goal campaign. The Manchester City playmaker has been in outstanding form, with Pep Guardiola (above) and his side on course to add the Premier League to the League Cup.

And De Bruyne, who has an astonishing 20 assists this season as well as 11 goals, reckons he has done enough to be recognised by his fellow players over his Liverpool rival.

The season’s two stand-out players go headto-head twice in the next week in the Champions League quarter-final and De Bruyne said: “In one way I believe I deserve it, because I have been very consistent in my form.

“I am very happy with myself, I am very pleased with how I have played. I didn’t expect to be this good this season.

“If I get it, it would be nice for the team and for me. I think there is almost no game where my standard has dropped, so I have been constant, and I am happy with myself.

“To maintain the level the amount of games I have played, the amount of minutes, I am pleased with that.”

But De Bruyne recognises that he faces a stiff challenge from the little winger.

“Salah has a remarkable goalscoring run, and he plays very well like an inside-forward type of role. This season he has been incredible,” added the Belgian.

The PFA is due to announce its shortlist for the award, which will see De Bruyne and Salah go head-to-head in perhaps the closest race left in a Premier League season that has otherwise been dominated by City.