PREMIER LEAGUE Bit-part Yaya is still happy to be a Blue
COLLINS IN A RANT AT MAD’ PENS
YAYA TOURE has been assured he will still be a Manchester City player after the transfer window slams shut on Wednesday night.
The 33-year-old Ivory Coast midfield star (below) has only played a bit-part role so far under new City manager Pep Guardiola.
Many expected the double Premier League winner would be sold this summer, but Guardiola has revealed he has spoken to the veteran who wants to see out the final season of his £250,000-a-week contract.
“I expect him to be here on Thursday, yes,” says Guardiola, who insists he still has a part to play at the Etihad.
“I spoke with him. He said he wants to stay. OK, if he wants to stay, I am happy he stays.
“There are a lot of games. Everybody needs to play. I know his quality. For example, in the last 20 minutes against Steaua Bucharest, he played as a striker and played amazing.” In the past, City have had problems with Toure’s outspoken agent Dimitri Seluk who has often made outlandish public statements about the African, much to the club’s dismay. But Guardiola says Toure and Seluk aren’t causing him any problems. “Of course, I know Yaya very well and his behaviour from the beginning has been perfect. “When his behaviour is OK and his agent as well, then everything is going very well.” JAMES COLLINS has described the problems posed by the new guidelines about contact in the penalty area as ”mad” – with West Ham steeled to tackle a Manchester City outfit awarded TWO spot-kicks in their last league clash. The Hammers and Wales central defender (below) studied the incidents as City triumphed 4-1 against the Potters, who also won a penalty. “It has not changed my approach because I have never been one for holding in the box,” said Collins, who played a five-minute cameo role in West Ham’s shock 2-1 win at the Etihad 13 months ago. “I’m pretty confident that I can head the ball without having to grab onto anyone. I’m quite used to it now as it was drummed into us withWales during the Euros – any sort of pulling in the box and it iss going to be a penalty. “There has got to be consistency. It is hard for the referee to see every challengee in the box. Somee have been givenn and some won’t be.” Recalling the events at Stoke, Collins said: “I’ve been in that position hundreds of times – when a man goes down if you have got your arms on him. “Those penalties looked a bit soft to me. The ref has given one to Stoke for Raheem Sterling not looking at the ball. “What’s next ? You’re looking at the floor and he gives a penalty! “It’s mad, you know. The refs have obviously been told to crack down on it and it got highlighted in that game.” Collins needed no reminding of the threat posed by a City team resurgent under Pep Guardiola. “Sergio Aguero is absolutely on fire and they have been playing well,” said Collins. “They are a good team whoever is the manager. It is a squad full of world-class players.” WEST HAM’S crocked record buy Andre Ayew has been summoned home by Ghana FA chiefs ... to be treated with herbal medicine. The striker, a £20.5million summer signing from Swansea, injured his thigh 20 minutes into his debut against Chelsea. Hammers boss Slaven Bilic confirmed earlier this week that Ayew (right) will be sidelined until the end of November. But Ghana’s technical director has now urged the 26-year-old to return home so he can undergo plant and herbal treatments – insisting they will get Ayew fit in a fortnight. And Oti Akenteng said he will press the striker’s dad, Ghana legend Abedi Pele, to order his son back. Akenteng said: “There are a lot of herbal medical doctors, who can use traditional medicine to cure Andre.”