MANCHESTER -- Manuel Pellegrini says he is confident Yaya Toure will not be affected by racist abuse on Twitter when he returns to action against CSKA Moscow, while confirming that Manchester City will be without injured defender Aleksandar Kolarov for the Champions League clash.
Kolarov, who was hurt in the warm-up before Sunday's 1-0 win over Manchester United, has been ruled out for a month with a calf problem.
The Premier League champions will be without three players for Wednesday's clash against CSKA, with David Silva still sidelined by a knee problem and Frank Lampard aiming to return from a thigh injury for Saturday's game against Queens Park Rangers.
With Silva and Lampard sidelined, plus the versatile Kolarov, Toure becomes more significant for City at a time when police are investigating comments made to him after he reactivated his Twitter account.
However, Pellegrini believes the midfielder, who was racially abused by CSKA supporters last season, will have no problem being able to concentrate on Wednesday's match at the Etihad Stadium.
He told a news conference: "Yaya is an experienced player. He is always trying to fight against those things [racism] but I don't think he will have any problem about playing in the way he knows how to."
Kolarov is unlikely to play again until December while Lampard has missed City's last four games, but Pellegrini confirmed that Eliaquim Mangala, who missed the Manchester derby, is fit again.
He added: "He is in the squad list. Kolarov has an important muscle injury in his calf so he will be [out for] at least one month. I think Frank will be fit next week."
Pellegrini said he is considering using Toure in a more advanced role behind the striker, which would involve bringing Fernandinho into the team.
He added: "It is an option because Fernandinho can do both things, he can be a defensive midfielder or an offensive midfielder. Maybe in some games we will use it."