David Platt optimistic about Yaya Toure's Cup of Nations departure

Dec 29, 2012 1:55:00 PM

The assistant manager of the Premier League champions is not fearing the temporary leave of the two brothers, believing the club have enough depth to replace them

David Platt has played down concerns that Manchester City could suffer as the Toure brothers prepare to leave the club temporarily to compete for their country in the Africa Cup of Nations.

Playmaker Yaya Toure has been a crucial part of Manchester City's midfield, with the Ivory Coast international being able to play as a deep-lying midfielder or more successfully as an attacking player.

But Platt is confident that the club will be able to cope without both Yaya and central defender Kolo Toure when the African competition begins in January, even though they could be gone until the end of Feburary, depending on Ivory Coast's progress.

Platt told reporters: "I'm not too sure how many games he is gone for but it's something we have known about and will have to deal with.

"We lost him last year and won the league. The kind of player he is, it would be more beneficial to have him and it's similar with Kolo.

"But we will get on with it. It's like an injury - you want the full complement to choose from.

"We have a dressing room full of quality players and we have to cope with it."

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