Manchester City Must Resist Chance to Rest Yaya Toure vs. Tottenham Hotspur

According to a report by David Anderson of the Mirror, Manchester City’s Yaya Toure is set to be left out of the club’s home match with Tottenham Hotspur this weekend after being on international duty with the Ivory Coast.

The midfielder is expected to land back in the UK just 24 hours before Saturday’s game, and Manuel Pellegrini could decide to omit Toure from the starting line-up if he doesn’t feel Toure has had sufficient time to prepare.

With City set to fly to Russia after the lunchtime kick-off with Spurs to prepare for their crucial Champions League match with CSKA Moscow, it’s likely Toure will be left out. He also missed City’s 2-2 draw at the Emirates earlier this season for the same reason, and Pellegrini must be growing frustrated with having to cope without one of his star players after each round of international fixtures.

Toure has struggled so far this campaign to replicate his scintillating form of last season, when he became only the second central midfield player in the history of the Premier League to score 20 goals in a season.

However, in his last game for City away at Villa, he scored a superb second-half goal, curling in a left-footed shot from 20 yards to put his side in front after being frustrated for long periods of the match by Paul Lambert’s resilient home side.

Ian Walton/Getty Images

It was a moment of brilliance, reminiscent of his form from last season, when he would regularly dominate the midfield battle and score vital goals. Those calling for him to be dropped after his poor showing against Bayern Munich were given a vivid reminder of his class.

It’s frustrating for both the club and the player, though, that he may have to sit this one out. City will be without the ability of their match-winning midfielder, and Toure is denied an opportunity to build on his excellent goal, which many saw as a potential springboard to better form.

Add to that the absence of Samir Nasri, who recently underwent a groin operation, and Fernandinho’s hamstring strain, which makes him a doubt, and City could be without three-quarters of the title-winning midfield on Saturday.

The bonus for Pellegrini’s side is the return of Fernando, whose cameo against Villa further underlined his quality. He may have made only four appearances since his move from Porto in the summer, but he looks to be City’s best signing this season.

His tenacity and his desire to make tackles offer the back four excellent protection, and he brings order to City’s midfield. He was badly missed during his period out with a muscle injury, but his return looks to be timely given City’s relative midfield shortage.

With Toure, Fernandinho and Fernando, City have a nearly perfect balance in midfield, but they haven't all been 100 percent fit at the same time. Pellegrini will be desperate to get them all fit and raring to go soon to give himself options in the middle of the pitch.

Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Meanwhile, City’s first-team players have moved to the club’s new state-of-the-art training ground adjacent to the Etihad Stadium, leaving their old home at Carrington.

It will be the home of City's first-team squad and youth teams, and the club hope it will be the catalyst for producing world-class academy players capable of reaching the very top of the game.

Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report's lead Manchester City correspondent and will be following the club from a Manchester base throughout the 2014-15 season. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter: @RobPollard.