BREAKING NEWS: Mancini expects Yaya Toure to play in Africa Cup of Nations

Mancini expects Yaya Toure to play in Africa Cup of Nations

Dec 14, 2012 1:16:00 PM

The Ivory Coast international is set to leave for the tournament which starts on January 19, whilst the Italian is not sure whether Vincent Kompany will be fit for the weekend

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has admitted that he can not prevent Yaya Toure from leaving for the Africa Cup of Nations which starts in January.

The Italian had hoped that his midfielder would miss the tournament held in South Africa or that he would be available for their Premier League clash against Arsenal on January 13.


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However, it seems that Toure will stay in Manchester up until City's FA Cup third round match against Watford on January 5, when he will join up with his Ivory Coast team-mates.

Mancini told reporters: “It is difficult. I think he will go to the African Nations Cup after that game.”

Meanwhile, the City boss is unsure whether captain Vincent Kompany will be fit for Saturday's trip to Newcastle after picking up a groin injury in the defeat to Manchester United last Sunday.

That defeat meant City are now six points behind their rivals in the Premier League, but Mancini insists he has full belief in his players to turn their fortunes around.

He added: "We showed that we were better than Manchester United.

“But they have more experience than us and it is not a problem to them when they fall behind.

“We need to work hard but we can recover this position. By February everything could have changed.”