Mancini expects to lose Yaya

Roberto Mancini expects key midfielder Yaya Toure to leave Manchester City for the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa in January.

The City manager had wanted to retain Toure's services during the early part of 2013 but has confirmed the midfielder is keen to compete in the tournament.



Toure is expected to join up with the Ivory Coast squad following the Premier League club's third round FA Cup tie on January 5.



Mancini said: "I think he will go to the African Nations Cup after the Watford game."



Toure was involved in the 2012 competition when the Ivory Coast reached the final before losing to Zambia on penalties. Next year's competition runs from January 19 to February 10.



Meanwhile, Mancini believes skipper Vincent Kompany has only a 'two per cent' chance of being fit for Saturday's trip to Newcastle after he suffered a groin injury against Manchester United last Sunday.



And while City will give the Belgium international every chance of making the trip to St James' Park, Mancini doesn't expect him to make it.



"We will try but it is difficult," said Mancini. "Probably two per cent chance."

City head to the North-East six points adrift of United following last weekend's game at the Etihad Stadium.



Yet despite that 3-2 defeat, Mancini insists he has total belief in his squad, and that City actually proved themselves to be the superior side no matter what the result.



"We showed that we were better than Manchester United," said Mancini. "But they have more experience than us and it is not a problem to them when they fall behind.



"We need to work hard but we can recover this position. By February everything could have changed."

Yaya Toure: Title race not over

Yaya Toure has insisted the Premier League title race is not over after Manchester City's derby defeat to Manchester United left them six points behind the league leaders.



The Ivorian midfielder described Robin van Persie's injury-time winner as "a dagger in the heart" but urged his team-mates to show the spirit of champions and retain their crown.



Toure scored City's first goal as they came from 2-0 down to draw level before Van Persie condemned City to a loss that the former Barcelona player said only increases their determination.



"The title race is not finished - anything but," he told City's official website "We will continue to give United problems in the league and at the end of the season I hope we will win it again. We thought we would win the game when we made it 2-2, but United have great experience and Wayne Rooney was fantastic for them.



"It was a dagger in the heart to concede a third so late in the game, but it was a fantastic game for the fans, and that is why I like the Premier League so much. It is the toughest league in the world.



"Disappointing though this defeat is, it only makes us more determined to win the title. We have to be strong mentally and strong in every other way as well, but our championship challenge is not finished."



City were eight points behind United with six games to go last season and recovered to overhaul their neighbours but Toure has warned them this season could be even more difficult.



He added: "We have to forget what we have done in the past. This year will be tough, but we have a fantastic squad and we have the confidence to keep going until the final day. We will never give up.



"We need to improve by working even harder, because when you are at the top everybody wants to take you down.



"Last year was fantastic, but we have to realise that sometimes you go through tough periods - we can turn this around. When the chips are down, that's when the tough really get going and we will show why we are champions."