YAYA SET FOR EURO RECALL

YAYA TOURE could be handed a Champions League lifeline by Manchester City, with Ilkay Gundogan set to miss the rest of the season.

City fear Gundogan tore knee ligaments during their 2-0 win over Watford on Wednesday.

The £20m midfielder underwent an initial scan yesterday but further tests are required to determine exactly how long he ® will be on the sidelines. With the German international facing surgery, the door has opened for Toure to return to City’s Champions League fold.

City boss Pep Guardiola left Toure out of his squad for the competition’s group stage because he was restricted to 17 overseas players. At

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that stage Toure and Guardiola’s relationship was strained but the pair have subsequently patched up their differences.

City can make up to three changes to their squad before the first leg of their last-16 tie with Monaco in February and 33-year-old Ivorian Toure is in line to replace Gundogan.

Team-mate Pablo Zabaleta has urged Gundogan to “stay strong” during his injury nightmare.

Gundogan joined City from Borussia Dortmund in the summer but did not make his debut until mid-September following surgery on a dislocated right kneecap.

The 26-year-old had just started to find his form before this latest setback. “Unfortunately it is the same knee, but you have to keep strong,” Zabaleta (inset) said. “We feel so sorry for him because it has been quite tough for him at the beginning of the season. He has been working so hard and he was playing well.” Zabaleta also revealed he will leave discussions about his own City future until the end of the season. The 31-year-old’s current £75,000-aweek deal expires in July but he is not in a hurry to seek talks with Guardiola over a fresh contract. “The end of the season will be when we need to decide about my future,” he said.