Team News: Vincent Kompany handed captaincy in Eden Hazard absence

Vincent Kompany has been named in Belgium's starting lineup for the first time since October 2015 for this evening's friendly with the Czech Republic in Brussels.

The Manchester City centre-back started his club side's final eight games of the domestic campaign and is deemed fit enough to play a part at the King Baudouin Stadium tonight.

Manager Roberto Martinez intended to give the captain's armband to Eden Hazard for games against Czech Republic and Estonia, but his injury absence means that Kompany will skipper the side.

It is an attack-minded lineup named by Martinez for the friendly clash, spearheaded by Romelu Lukaku and Michy Batshuayi - two of eight Premier League players in the XI.

In terms of the visitors, who currently trail Germany and Northern Ireland in qualifying for the 2018 World Cup, there is a start for Juventus-bound Patrik Schick.

Belgium: Courtois; Alderweireld, Kompany, Vertonghen; De Bruyne, Tielemans, Nainggolan, Carrasco, Chadli; Lukaku, Batshuayi Subs: Mignolet, Casteels, Vermaelen, Dendoncker, Fellaini, Mirallas, Mertens, Foket, Boyata, T. Hazard, Benteke

Czech Republic: Vaclik, Kaderabek, Kalas, Gebre Selassie, Brabec, Zmrhal, Darida, Schick, Krmencik, Soucek, Krejci Subs: Celustka, Dockal, Horava, Jankto, Jugas, Kopic, Koubek, Mares, Pavlenka, Prikryl, Sacek, Sivok, Skoda, Suchy

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