Thursday 12 May 2016 12:46, UK
Nacer Chadli and Kevin Mirallas have been left out of Belgium's squad for Euro 2016.
Neither Tottenham forward Chadli nor Everton winger Mirallas are in an initial 24-man group that will be cut to 23 before the end of the month, although both are on a standby list.
Belgium coach Marc Wilmots has named 12 Premier League players - three each from Spurs and Liverpool, two from Chelsea and Manchester City and one each from Everton and Manchester United.
Wilmots has included eight forwards and is planning an attacking approach when his side meet Italy, Ireland and Sweden in Group E in France.
City captain Vincent Kompany, who was due to skipper the Belgians in France this summer, is ruled out with a thigh injury but there is a place in the squad for his young club-mate Jason Denayer.
"I feel very sorry for him to miss out on the European Championship," said Wilmots. "He is our leader."
However, he denied media reports that Kompany would be used at the tournament behind the scenes.
"I don't see a role or plan for him except maybe to visit us at the hotel," said Wilmots.
Chelsea's Eden Hazard will wear the armband in Kompany's absence but Wilmots revealed he plans to deploy Kevin De Bruyne as a playmaker behind two strikers.
"Eden (Hazard) is the captain but we have many leaders in the team," he told a news conference. "I want De Bruyne to play in a number 10 role, he has all the qualities and will play with two other strikers."
Celtic defender Dedryck Boyata is also included along with former Arsenal captain Thomas Vermaelen and Marseille striker Michy Batshuayi, who has been linked with a summer move to England.
Wilmots is expecting injured Liverpool striker Divock Origi to make a full recovery before the May 31 deadline.
"He'll be back quickly and brings speed and penetration which is the way I want to play," added Wilmots.
Belgium's 24-man Euro 2016 squad
Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois (Chelsea), Jean-Francois Gillett (Mechelen), Simon Mignolet (Liverpool)
Defenders: Toby Alderweireld (Tottenham Hotspur), Dedryck Boyata (Celtic), Jason Denayer (Galatasaray), Bjorn Engels (Club Bruges), Nicolas Lombaerts (Zenit St Petersburg), Jordan Lukaku (Oostende), Thomas Meunier (Club Bruges), Thomas Vermaelen (Barcelona), Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur)
Midfielders: Moussa Dembele (Tottenham Hotspur), Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United), Radja Nainggolan (AS Roma), Axel Witsel (Zenit St Petersburg)
Forwards: Michy Batshauyi (Olympique Marseille), Christian Benteke (Liverpool), Yannick Carrasco (Atletico Madrid), Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City), Eden Hazard (Chelsea), Romelu Lukaku (Everton), Dries Mertens (Napoli), Divock Origi (Liverpool)
