Maxim De Cuyper’s strong start to the season with Brighton is good new for Belgium

Maxim De Cuyper’s strong start to the season with Brighton is good new for Belgium Maxim De Cuyper has been in fantastic form to start the season with Brighton. The 25-year-old has begun his second season in England with three goals and three assists in seven games, already matching his assist numbers from last season and adding one more goal. With Mark van Bommel set to announce his first Belgian squad this weekend, it is now time for De Cuyper to become a regular start for the national team. During the World Cup, De Cuyper was finally put ahead of the likes of Timothy Castagne and Thomas Meunier by Rudi Garcia. For a long time, these two have been the first choice for many a Belgian coach at full-back. Yet, while both are playing in the Premier League like De Cuyper, it is clear that the Brighton man is the future. It was always up in the air as to whether or not De Cuyper would be able to make the transition from the Belgian Pro League to the Premier League. The attacking full-back had scored nine goals and provided 17 assists for Club Brugge in just over 100 appearances over the two seasons prior to joining Brighton. It took some time to adapt, but this season it looks like De Cuyper is showing the same form he had shown during his time with Club Brugge. Belgium are transitioning to a new generation and looking for players ready to become regulars. De Cuyper appears to be one putting his name forward to be a key player under new head coach van Bommel. Plenty will be watching to see if van Bommel is going to signal a real transition from the former generation. Axel Witsel and Matz Sels have both retired this week, which could signal that van Bommel is ready to take the Belgian national team in a new direction with a new crop of players. GBeNeFN  |  Ben Jackson