Get the day's biggest City stories delivered straight to your inbox Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Yaya Toure is expected to be fit to face Chelsea on Sunday, despite straining his groin in Manchester City’s victory over West Brom.

The Ivorian international scored twice in the 3-0 win at the Hawthorns on Monday, but was taken off as a precaution after 80 minutes.

The 32-year-old will be assessed by City’s medical staff on Wednesday ahead of the crunch game with Chelsea at the Etihad.

Toure didn’t appear to be struggling as he made his way from the visitors’ dressing room on Monday and Manuel Pellegrini confirmed that he expects to have him in his starting XI at the weekend.

“He had a little problem in his groin," said the Chilean. “But I hope on Wednesday he will be okay because it was more a precaution.”

After Toure’s double against West Brom Pellegrini is convinced the midfielder can reproduce his finest form this season.

"I always said that last season was a strange season for Yaya,” he said. “He started the season with a lot of problems, with the death of his brother.

“After there were a lot of problems with his agent. I think that he was not focused last year maybe on what he had to do, but we spoke long before the season.

“I am sure that we are going to see the same Yaya that we saw two seasons ago so I am very happy for the team and for him because he is a very important player for us."

Pellegrini added: “I don’t think that Yaya deserved the amount of criticism that he got last season.

More Manchester City stories:

“Maybe it was not his best season, but he didn’t play so bad.

“But he is an important player for us so maybe he had more possibility.

“I am sure that last season his head was not in his best moment and it is very difficult for a player when you have so many problems.

“I always speak with all the players, especially for important players.

“Yaya knows what happened last season, we had a lot of conversations about that.

“A lot of things so he continues to be a very important player for us.”