Football
Richard Jolly, ESPN.com writer 10y

Yaya Toure could return on Sunday

Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini hopes Yaya Toure can make a swifter than expected recovery from his muscle injury and return for the trip to Crystal Palace on Sunday.

Mooney: City still have a shot

The Ivory Coast international was injured in the 3-2 defeat to Liverpool and has sat out City’s last two games, the 2-2 draw with Sunderland and the 3-1 win over West Bromwich Albion.

Pellegrini had originally suggested that the 22-goal midfielder would not make his comeback before May’s visit to Everton, but he told Sky Sports: “Yaya, I think, can be fit for next game.”

City are waiting to see if midfielder David Silva will be fit after he was stretchered off in the win over Albion with a recurrence of the ankle injury that forced him to miss the Sunderland game.

Right-back Pablo Zabaleta told City’s official website: “We know how important David Silva is for the team. Hopefully his ankle will not be so bad and fingers crossed to see Silva back as soon as possible and in the team for the next game.”

Zabaleta suggested Silva’s ankle was troubling him even before he came off, adding: “He was struggling at the beginning. He had been with some problems in his ankle during the week but he never wanted to let the team down. He played, he did a fantastic game until he got injured. He is one of the players we need in the team. With him everything is much better.”

Zabaleta scored his first goal of the season against Albion as, for the first time ever, three Argentines scored in the same Premier League game.

Sergio Aguero and Martin Demichelis were also on target and Zabaleta said: “We made history: Argentinian night at the Etihad. It is normal to see Sergio scoring but it is not normal to see Zabaleta and Demichelis scoring so many goals.”

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