CITY Guardiola: We need you to help us, Yaya

PEP Guardiola has issued a plea to Yaya Toure as the City manager targets an unprecedented Quadruple.

The Ivorian midfielder looks certain to leave the Etihad in the summer, with his contract due to expire at the end of the season.

But Guardiola insists the 34-year-old can still play a major role in City’s bid to complete a clean sweep - calling on the veteran to force his way back into the team.

Toure has only played a fringe role so far this term - and with City targeting Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Fred in the summer, he looks set to head for the exit.

But Guardiola remains adamant Toure has a role to play in the final months of the campaign - if he can prove he is worth a place in the team.

“It’s not time to talk about it (Toure’s contract,)” said Guardiola. “Yaya helped us a lot last season, but this season he’s played less than the year before. We are going to decide, there are still a lot of games.

“If we believe he can play he will have his minutes, it depends on him whether that happens because there are a lot of games.”

Fernandinho has been pivotal to City this season - and the Brazilian has just been handed a new two-year contract at the age of 32.

Guardiola is determined to sign a long-term successor for the Brazilian in the summer, with Fred his first choice.

He tried to conclude a deal for the Shakhtar player last month, only to switch his focus to Leicester’s Riyad Mahrez following injury to Leroy Sane.

That has left Fernandinho having to carry the strain at the base of City’s midfield ahead of a potential fixture pile-up as they continue to challenge for silverware on all fronts in this campaign.

That could present an opportunity for Toure - and Guardiola hopes the former Barcelona man can rediscover the form that saw him earn a new deal last year.

“Last season, he was so important for us,” added Guardiola.

“The only guy who renewed his contract, the other guys we didn’t renew their contracts.

“The only one was Yaya because he played top.

“Hopefully he can help us until the end of the season because I think we need him.”