I saw Kevin De Bruyne give Man City fans exactly what they wanted - he can save their season

Form is temporary, class is permanent.

For all Kevin De Bruyne's body might have let him down over the past 18 months, his scintillating showing in the Saturday sunshine reminded everyone that he still has the quality to run games at the highest level.

The brilliant Belgian took to the Etihad pitch for the first time since announcing he will be leaving the club in the summer. There were huge cheers when his name was read out before kick off and 'Ooooh Kevin De Bruyne' rang out when he stood over early set pieces.

And for all there is an extended farewell feeling about the final few matches of the season for the 33-year-old, he and City have a job to do. And at 2-0 inside 15 minutes against Crystal Palace it was a difficult job.

City were bedraggled, exposed time and again by an incisive visiting attack. Eberechi Eze had the freedom of the penalty area to tap home the opener, Chris Richards' close range header was all too easy to make it two.

Enter De Bruyne. He was involved early and his pass to release Omar Marmoush for a clear chance was as delicate as it was destructive. It roused the crowd, who had been somewhat stunned and silenced by the Palace opener.

De Bruyne then bent a shot against the far post, and gesticulated to the crowd in a bid to whip up the atmosphere.

Minutes later he succeeded in that aim when he halved the deficit with a free kick that deceived Dean Henderson and kissed the post on its way in.

De Bruyne was determined, grabbing the game by the scruff of the neck and influencing proceedings. It was part a reminder of glorious modern history, part writing a present day chapter.

He will go down as City's greatest Premier League player, possibly their greatest ever. And he does not want to go