"You could always see that he had something special" - Steven Defour hails former Burnley team-mate

McNeil was just a 16-year-old when the ex-Belgium international arrived at Turf Moor in the summer of 2016 and had just signed a two-year scholarship with the Clarets.

Defour had seen glimpses of the teenager's quality when he'd been invited to train with the first team squad at the Barnfield Training Centre, prior to the former Manchester United star signing his first professional contract.

The pair then lined up together for the first time for Sean Dyche's side in a League Cup tie against Burton Albion at the Pirelli Stadium in September 2018.

"You could always see that he had something special, he had a good technique and a very good left foot," said Defour.

"You don't know what he can achieve until he plays in a first team game, but the 'gaffer' gave Dwight his chance in the Europa League campaign and he took it with both hands."

McNeil has now played 66 times for the Clarets, starting every game in the Premier League last term, and has featured for England's Under-21s.

The club's Crown Jewel continues to go from strength to strength, but his progress in the game hasn't gone unnoticed.

The 20-year-old is now being tracked by a number of clubs throughout Europe, with up to seven clubs from the top flight reportedly weighing up an approach.

And that comes as no surprise to Defour: "The sky's the limit for him. I think at some point in his career he'll get the chance to play at the very top level.

"He would deserve it [an England call] at some point as well, but it's always difficult for a player at a smaller club in the Premier League. He deserves it."

Defour feels that he is a particularly good judge of character having grown up in the same circles as Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne.

The two attended the same school and lived under the same roof as youngsters before joining up at Genk.

Defour said: "We were at the same school for a moment and we also spent time in the same 'foster' family for football players.

"He was three years younger than me, at the time I was 14 or 15 so we didn't spend that much time together. He was already quite good at a young age.

"He was with his own group because when I was 16 I was in the first team. He was still with the kids and then when I left he progressed to the Under 21s squad and then the first team."

He added: "There were many talented players; he could play with both feet so he could pass the ball with his left foot and his right foot, even in the early stages he could see things that other players couldn't.

"Charly Musonda, who went to Chelsea, at the age of 13/14 was the most amazing player I ever saw, but then had difficulties later on to confirm his talent.

"You could see that Kevin had something different to the other kids. When I was playing for Standard Liege we played against Genk and he scored a really amazing goal."