Manchester City star Kevin de Bruyne has hit back at Roy Keane following the pundit's comments about Kyle Walker during the recent game against Liverpool in the Premier League.
Controversial pundit Keane described Walker as an 'idiot' on Sky Sports after the full-back fouled Sadio Mane inside the penalty area, with Mohamed Salah converting the resulting spot-kick.
But De Bruyne says that was unfair on Walker, with comparisons to Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold also unhelpful given the different roles the pair play.
De Bruyne said: "From the moment Kyle came to the team, he has been one of the most consistent performers with us.
"He is never injured, he plays all the time. He is reliable and is a really good defender. I think the job he does is really good.
"You can't compare the work that Kyle does to Trent Alexander-Arnold at Liverpool. Trent is the more offensive player and Kyle has to play a different role for us, but he does it really well.
"There is a reason why he is playing all these years at this level for all these teams.
"What Roy Keane says, he is a different man and everybody knows that. But OK, it is his opinion, and take it on the chin. [Walker] is going to be fine with it."
De Bruyne's Belgium take on England this evening in the UEFA Nations League, having been beaten 2-1 at Wembley by Gareth Southgate's men in the last international break.
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Alexander-Arnold is not in the England squad because of his calf injury sustained in that game at the Etihad Stadium.
He is hopefully of returning a couple of weeks after the international break is over, taking his total time on the sidelines to around a month.
A Belgium win would take Roberto Martinez's men to the Nations League finals with a match to spare.
