Toure hopes to delay departure to Africa

Yaya Toure is desperate to play in Manchester City’s January fixtures ahead of linking with Ivory Coast for the Africa Cup of Nations.

The midfielder and his brother Kolo, also of City, are due to join the national team on January 11, the day Roberto Mancini’s side are due to face Liverpool in the first leg of their Carling Cup semi-final.

Toure wants to feature in that match as well as the Premier League trip to Wigan five days later.

“The problem is in this country we don’t stop,” he said.

“In Europe they stop playing for at least two weeks, but here in December and January you are playing every three days.”

“So maybe I can go on the 16th or 17th and the competition does not start until the 21st.”

Even if he misses more of City’s January and February fixtures than he would like, Toure said that he has no fears about how his fellow midfielders will perform in his place.

“If we go to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations I think I will miss four or five games for City,” the 28-year-old said.

“I have total confidence in my friends here. We have (Nigel) de Jong, (James) Milner, (Samir) Nasri, (Gareth) Barry who can all play that position and do a fantastic job.”

“At the moment we have players like Barry who are doing more work than a young boy in that position. It’s unbelievable.”

“It will be hard. We play Liverpool twice in the (Carling) Cup and Manchester United as well in the FA Cup. I hope my friends do well because now we have a good chance.”

“I have played for my country for a long time, but I am focused on what I’m doing with City. It’s a great challenge to win the Premier League.”

The Ivorian is not worried about seeing his side lose their points advantage at the top of the table in recent weeks, insisting that City can still win the title.

“I hope to win the Premier League and it’s very important to us,” said the former Barcelona man.

“The manager is doing a fantastic job and we’ve got a chance this year because we’ve got a great squad.”

“Sometimes, results can be frustrating, but the most important thing is to keep moving forward, pick your heads up and stay as strong as possible.”

“It would be amazing if we could go into the New Year at the top of the Premier League. If so, you could be seeing the winner.”

“We have some fantastic players here now. It’s also a young team and it’s great for the future.”

“I look round the dressing room and it’s not the same faces. Now I am looking at players who like to win. That winning mentality is very important if you are to take the next step. It shows we are going the right way for this Premier League.”