Kolo Toure is out for Manchester City’s Europa League match
A hamstring injury picked up by Kolo Toure means that he will not feature in Manchester City’s Europa League tie against Lech Pozan on Thursday 20 October.
Vincent Kompany is expected to take the centre back’s place for the game at the City of Manchester Stadium.
City has a number of injury problems. Mario Balotelli is still out with a knee injury, while Aleksandar Kolarov has not recovered from his ankle injury.
Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has got a lack of strikers up front for the game against Pozan.
João Alves de Assis Silva has an ankle injury, while Roque Santa Cruz was not picked for the Europa League squad and is illegible to play for Manchester City in the competition.
This only leaves Carlos Tevez and Emmanuel Adebayor as the striking options. Mancini hinted that he would like to rest Tevez so Adebayor may start on his own up front.
Mancini believes that the Europa League is an important competition for the club this season and that his side has a great chance of progressing in the tournament.
"It is an important trophy and we must try to get to the final. If we win tomorrow we have a good chance to go to the next round,” said the Manchester City manager.
However, Mancini warned his side not to be complacent as they prepare for the match against Poznan.
"We must concentrate because Poznan are a good team and played very well against Juventus. If we want to win we must play very well," said Mancini.
"Poznan play good football. I have watched them three times and they have strong quick players. We must concentrate 100%,” added the Italian.
Toure will be a blow for City who rely on his leadership at the heart of the defence. The defender has become an integral part of Mancini’s side.
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