Manager Manuel Pellegrini is confident Manchester City can keep up their title chase without midfielder Yaya Toure.
City have not won in the league while Toure, 31, has been absent, winning the Africa Cup of Nations with Ivory Coast.
Toure will miss Wednesday’s Premier League match at Stoke City and Pellegrini said: “He is a very important player and it is very important to have Yaya back.
“But we don’t just depend on one player. We must win without him.”
City lie seven points behind leaders Chelsea and are winless in their last five league outings but Pellegrini insists they can withstand the pressure.
“We have a lot of things to think about, more important than pressure. I don’t feel any pressure inside the club or outside,” said Pellegrini, who also spoke of Wednesday’s opponents, his side’s lack of goals and his use of Frank Lampard.
BBC SPORTS
