De Bruyne set for starring role in Belgian midfield

“I didn’t do it before because I was young and I didn’t have the profile I have now,” De Bruyne, who turns 28 next Thursday on the same day Belgium play England in their final Group G fixture, told RTBF television.

“From now on, I have to shoulder my responsibility,” he said, adding that a role as “boss” behind Belgium’s offensive trio of Romelu Lukaku, Dries Mertens and Eden Hazard came “instinctively”, and not from coach Roberto Martinez.

De Bruyne did not convince all of his critics in the 3-0 opening win over debutants Panama on Monday, in which Belgium’s “golden generation” claims were looking thin until a brilliant solo strike from Mertens settled their nerves after the break.

However, his role in directing Belgium’s multiple attacking options suggest he is finding a way to bring his club form to the international stage and coordinate with captain Hazard, who plays a similarly creative function further forward at Chelsea.

Belgium aimed to wrap up qualification by beating Tunisia in Moscow on Saturday, De Bruyne said, so the clash with England, who should beat Panama after opening with a win against the North Africans, would be relaxed.

That said, he stressed, meeting club mates and Premier League rivals would make for a tough game.

“It’s never friendly,” he said.