Kolo Toure is fully confident his Manchester City team-mates will cope as he and his brother Yaya prepare to head to the African Cup of Nations in the New Year.
The City pair could miss up to six matches if the Ivory Coast, who are 6/4 with bookmaker to win the tournament, reach the final in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea on 12th February.
Officials of the club are currently in talks with the Ivory Coast FA and are hopeful that both men will be able to stay in Manchester as long as possible.
Kolo was included in the Blues squad in their weekend 1-0 victory over his former club Arsenal, which ensured Mancini’s team retained their two-point margin at top of the Premier League.
He said: “I have total confidence in my friends because they are a fantastic team.
“We have Nigel de Jong, James Milner, and even Samir Nasri who could play in Yaya’s position, and Gareth Barry does a fantastic job. They are important midfielders.”
