Source: Daily_Mail
Kolo Toure set for first Manchester City start since drug ban
Kolo Toure is looking to bounce back from his drug suspension nightmare when he makes his first start for Manchester City in almost seven months against Birmingham.[LNB]The defender, who last played on February 27, failed a test after taking a banned substance that was in one of his wife's slimming pills, used to help him control his weight.[LNB]But the 30-year-old Ivory Coast international insists he has gained strength from a difficult spell on the sidelines and is ready to put his ban hell behind him when he returns against the Carling Cup holders in tonight's third round clash at the Etihad Stadium.[LNB] Listen up: Roberto Mancini talks to Toure and his Manchester City squad in training[LNB]'It is really important to get back to what I love to do which is football,' he said.[LNB]'I have gained a lot of strength from this hard time and I just need to focus on the future. [LNB]'People know I am not someone to try and cheat. I was really unlucky but all the people at the club and in Ivory Coast gave me a lot of support and the most important thing is now I am back.'[LNB]Manchester City's head of football operations Brian Marwood, meanwhile, insists they will mount a serious challenge to win the Carling Cup this season.[LNB]The club went out in the third round of the competition last year at the hands of West Brom after fielding a weakened side, but tonight's visitors Birmingham are likely to face a stiffer challenge.[LNB]Marwood said the club have now built a squad capable of mounting a challenge for all four trophies.[LNB]He said: 'The Carling Cup is an important competition for us, there is a European place on offer, there is the potential to go back to Wembley again.[LNB] Training day: Toure is ready to bounce back from his drug ban hell[LNB]'One of the reasons why we have built the squad in the way that we have done is to try to be competitive in every competition that we play in.'[LNB]City manager Roberto Mancini, who fielded a very young side last year, is likely instead to select a starting line-up made up of those senior players who have not featured much or at all this season.[LNB]Owen Hargreaves and Kolo Toure are likely to be among those who will start against Birmingham, while the likes of Carlos Tevez, Mario Balotelli and Andy Johnson, who have not played as much as they would have wanted in the league, are set to play.[LNB] All smiles: Carlos Tevez is expected to join Toure in City's starting line-up against Birmingham[LNB]Mancini said he will change 'seven or eight players' from the side who drew at Fulham, but that any youngsters are likely to be on the bench rather than in the starting line-up.[LNB]'I well change many players because we need to rest some. I will change seven or eight players but we want to get through to the next round.[LNB]'We know that last year against West Brom we had a chance and we lost so it's very important that we play well,' said Mancini.[LNB]James Milner, who missed the Fulham match after a clash of heads last week, could return.[LNB] He's back! Hargreaves the enforcer ready for City debut against BirminghamCup not a priority for Birmingham but they won't let their trophy go without a fightSilva puts international career at risk as Manchester City star hits out at Spain boss Del BosqueAll the latest Manchester City news, features and opinion [LNB]
