26 September,2015 10:44 AM IST | | AFP
Man City midfielder Yaya Toure cites an African reference calling for new signings to gel with team just like mayonnaise for Saturday's away Spurs clash
London: Yaya Toure hopes Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has found a recipe for attacking success ahead of today's visit to Tottenham.
Man City's Raheem Sterling (left) and Kevin De Bruyne. Pic/AFP
Manuel Pellegrini's side saw a 100 per cent start to the season ruined by successive home defeats to Juventus in the Champions League and West Ham in the Premier League. However, a 4-1 win at Sunderland in the League Cup midweek restored some order.
City have averaged two goals per game in the EPL so far this season, but Ivory Coast midfielder Toure feels the early leaders will score more once new signings Raheem Sterling and Kevin De Bruyne settle in.
"In Africa we say it's like mayonnaise - you all blend together. It's difficult at the moment because we have just bought players such as De Bruyne and Sterling. We need to make sure they feel part of the team," Toure said.
Pellegrini picked a strong side at Sunderland, making three changes - one of which was enforced as centre-back Eliaquim Mangala picked up a muscle injury during last Saturday's game. Mangala's fitness will be assessed soon, as will that of fellow centre-back Vincent Kompany, who missed two games since his calf problem against Juventus.
"We'll see till Saturday which players recover. We have at least eight injured players. I hope we can recover some of them," Pellegrini said. Martin Demichelis and Nicolas Otamendi are Pellegrini's other options in defence if Mangala or Kompany fail to recover.
Silva may return
Playmaker David Silva is also in contention to return, having been forced to withdraw minutes before kick-off against West Ham due to tightness in his calf. Defenders Pablo Zabaleta and Gael Clichy, midfielders Fabian Delph and Samir Nasri, and forwards Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfried Bony are other players on Pellegrini's casualty list.
City, who are two points clear of Man United, have the psychological boost of having won on three of their last four visits to White Hart Lane, twice winning 5-1.
