YAYA’S GOT A SMILE ON HIS FACE AGAIN
LOOK TO THE FUTURE
YAYA TOURE is eager to get his hands on a third Premier League title after one of the hardest seasons he can recall.
The former Ivory Coast captain was a vital part of the Manchester City sides which conquered English football in 2012 and 2014.
Despite that he only made his first league appearance of this campaign in November because of a fall-out with boss Pep Guardiola.
The pair have patched up their differences now, though, and Toure (right) is ready to hunt down leaders Chelsea.
City face two huge games in the space of a week – Everton away today and Spurs at home on Saturday.
And Toure, 33, said: “With Spurs’ win at Chelsea, everything is open.
“Catching them will be difficult but what we have to do is have a perfect second half of the season.”
Toure admits this season ranks as one of the toughest of his career TONY STENSON and he thanks Guardiola and his team-mates for steering him through the dfficult period. He said: “Who helped me through? The coach and my team-mates. “The manager knows me very well, he knows me from Barcelona and he knows what I’m capable of doing. “Sometimes the hardest moment in your life makes you grow. “I have been an important player here and, of course, when I was out there was a lot of talk about me. “But it was always very, very important to come back to show to my team-mates and the manager that I could help them again.” Toure is in the last six months of his contract at City and has rejected an offer from China. He added: “We don’t talk about the future, it’s more important being concentrated.” STEVE MILLAR
Goodison’s new £24million midfield signing was elbowed off the Manchester United stage by Jose Mourinho.
But that is in the past. The future is establishing himself on Merseyside after too long in the wilderness.
And he cannot wait to get started against Manchester City today as he is rewarded with the minutes on the pitch he craved at Old Trafford but never got, with just eight appearances under Mourinho.
With it comes the chance to further propel Barkley to the dizzy heights the local lad’s undoubted talents deserve to finally silence his knockers.
Schneiderlin is rubbing his hands at the prospect of playing star-maker and helping Barkley, 23, become a national treasure.
He said: “I love him as a player. As soon as you see his touch you can already see that Ross is something special.
“It doesn’t take long to see he has quality. He has this thing, this spark in him that can change games at any moment. Of course, because he’s English all the media, everyone, looks at him very closely.
“You have a very high expectation. You expect the best and when he has one or two games when he is a bit low, it’s always a big story ROMELU LUKAKU has taken the new kid on the Everton block under his arm to be his mentor and minder at Goodison.
Ademola Lookman is just 19 and as fresh-faced as they come following his move from Charlton for £11million.
And he is still pinching himself that he is now part of a squad of international players he had always admired from a distance.
Lookman said: “Growing up I watched most of them on TV. To actually train with them and be part of the team, it’s amazing. Lukaku was a big hero of mine.
“He is amazing at finishing. Every shot he takes pretty much goes in. We have spoken. Just to get an insight into both our lives.
“There’s a lot I can learn. That is what we spoke about. He was telling me it is a big step up but that I should not put any pressure on myself and be natural.”
Lookman may be small in stature but he is big on ambition and cannot wait to establish himself in Everton’s front line, with Cristiano Ronaldo another big idol of his from his school days.
He added: “I want to win trophies. To play at the highest level. I just want to be at the top.
“Growing up I supported Manchester United.
“The player who I idolised when I was a young kid was Cristiano Ronaldo during his time at United. I looked up to him.”
STEVE MILLAR about him. But I’m sure he will become one of the best players in England. You can feel it.” And Schneiderlin says he wants to become Barkley’s “feeder”. He added: “I’m here as well to help him, to feed him. He has already had some good seasons at Everton but I want to do more for him. “It’s difficult to play against him. He’s the kind of player who can dribble with both feet. He can shoot from far out. “He can find some good passes. He is always in the box. “You always have to concentrate because he can go past people. “So it’s very hard being up against him. “Now I want to help him.”