I don't think Kev warrants a starting place?
He will always come up with a moment of class to remind us, goal against Chelsea, case in point.
But he's more liability than threat for a while now.
He doesn't have the type of fitness which allows him to get about the midfield and recover transitions, usually when he has lost the ball
I do think we have taken a backwards steps in terms of cohesion in the midfield not having Bernie and Foden playing in the engine room.
It becomes even more pronounced when them and Gundo are also being asked to play high, or at least naturally gravitating towards the attack end.
Kev is a big game player but I have felt for a while we may have already seen his peak, whilst all the time he will always give world class reminders.
He is the solution and also the cause at times, similar to how Toure was after his peak, teams know he won't/can't get back in.