KDB bigger than Salah

BELGIUM BOSS MARTINEZ AWARD SHOCK

individual performances, but those individual performances come as part of a team in what is a team sport and Kevin, in the early part of the season, was magnificent.

“I understand what Mo did, but, out of the two, Kevin probably had a bigger effect over the season.”

De Bruyne and fellow City star Vincent Kompany will come up against club-mate John Stones when Belgium and England clash in Group G at the end of this month.

As will Martinez, who was Stones’ manager at Everton for three seasons until 2016 – and the Belgium boss remains a big fan.

He added: “I was scouting John for Wigan and we missed him on deadline day, and then he signed for Everton in January 2013.

“He hadn’t made his debut when I joined Everton that summer, but, from day one, I knew John had to be a centre-half and he had the composure on the ball to play there.

“It was a really interesting journey to see him grow and taking responsibility and get to the level he has got to. He has a big future.”

Stones is the only member of Gareth Southgate’s World Cup squad that Martinez worked with during his time in charge of Swansea, Wigan and Everton, although he admits there was one other he was looking to sign.

Martinez said: “We followed Kieran Trippier for a while – my chief scout loved him, absolutely loved him.”