By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Manchester City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne has not been included in the Belgium squad for friendlies against the Republic of Ireland and England this month due to a groin strain.
The 32-year-old was substituted 69 minutes into the 1-1 Premier League draw with Liverpool on Sunday.
Belgium coach Domenico Tedesco said De Bruyne has struggled with the injury “for the last few matches”.
“We can’t take a risk now and certainly not with Kevin,” he said.
“It is better to give him time to recover well at City and then have him ready for the European Championship.”
Belgium face the Republic in Dublin on 23 March and England at Wembley on 26 March.
City meet Newcastle United in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Saturday and Premier League leaders on 31 March.
De Bruyne missed the first five months of the season with a hamstring injury before returning in January.
“I don’t know if there is a connection to his hamstring injury,” said Tedesco.
“Yesterday I spoke to the doctor and Kevin and we decided the risk is too great. It is our responsibility to take into account the player but also the player’s
Belgian squad in full:
Johan Bakayoko, Michy Batshuayi, Arnaud Bodart, Timothy Castagne, Koen Casteels, Charles de Ketelaere, Koni de Winter, Zeno Debast, Olivier Deman, Jeremy Doku, Wout Faes.
Thomas Kaminski, Romelu Lukaku, Thomas Meunier, Amadou Onana, Lois Openda, Matz Sels, Arthur Theate, Youri Tielemans, Leandro Trossard, Arthur Vermeeren, Jan Vertonghen, Aster Vranckx.