Kolo Toure could hand Manchester City a boost by playing against West Ham on Saturday.
Defender hoping to face West Ham after injury fears
Kolo Toure could hand Manchester City a boost by playing against West Ham on Saturday.
The defender came off early against Bolton last time out after feeling tightness in his calf, sparking fears of a spell on the sidelines.
But the 29-year-old insists the problem is not as bad as first feared and he is hoping to play against West Ham.
The Ivory Coast international told the club's
official website: "I felt tightness in my calf so as a precaution I came off, but it's not looking as bad as we first thought and I'm hoping I will be available for selection for West Ham on Saturday.
"Obviously if there is even the slightest doubt, I will maybe rest it for a few more days, but as things stand, it's not looking too bad."
Unbeaten run
Toure has happy memories of Upton Park and wants to help Roberto Mancini's side extend their current seven-game unbeaten run.
"It's going to be a tough game, but Upton Park is a ground I've always enjoyed playing at," he said.
"It should be a good game and we will be looking to extend our unbeaten run to eight games. The consistency is coming, but we still need to take each game as it comes and not think that because we are playing the team at the bottom of the table that things will be easier.
"In fact, I think the wins will be harder to come by because we are riding high near the top and the teams we play will be more cautious and treat us a bigger scalp.
"We need to keep doing what we've been doing in the last month and be more focused than ever."
Make ground
City have a chance to make ground on their nearest rivals with leaders Arsenal and second placed Manchester United clashing on Monday, while third placed Chelsea head to Spurs, who sit in fifth, on Sunday.
But Toure is simply focusing on what City need to do against Avram Grant's bottom-placed side.
"There are teams playing each other around us but we mustn't think of them - just what we have to do," he said.
"The season is very long and neither this nor the next weekend will decide who wins the Premier League - we need to remain unbeaten for as long as possible because then it becomes part of your mentality.
"We will treat West Ham the same as we would another team from the top four."
