Toure: We must win our remaining Premier League games if we are to retain title

Yaya Toure claims Manchester City must target winning their remaining 14 games to retain their Premier League crown.

Toure has watched City slip in his absence while he was leading Ivory Coast to Africa Cup of Nations glory and they have not won any of their six league games without him.

The midfield star claims he is returning to the Etihad to do his "duty again" and insists they can still win the title, despite slipping seven points behind leaders Chelsea.

"With my confidence, I know football is not about one game or two games, especially in the Premier League," said Toure.

"We have 38 games and if we want to achieve it [retaining the title], we have to win all the games.

"I know it is difficult, but now I have to go back and do my duty again."

Wilfried Bony is returning with Toure and the striker is finally in line to make his City debut following his £25million switch from Swansea.

Boss Manuel Pellegrini does not expect the pair to figure at Stoke on Wednesday and says he will not rush them into action for the Blues.

Toure also hit out at criticism of him that he does not always try his best in every game for City.

"When I was in Manchester people were criticising me about a lot of things," he said.

"Sometimes when you say the truth about football, people don't listen. Especially you guys from the newspaper. You have to be objective and you have to say the true things.

"I've always been the guy who does everything to try and do the best for the team. Sometimes, I know, I can't be credited for that, but it's part of football.

"But I think my job is to try and do my best. I will sometimes get a little bit upset with some comments from people who sit in front of the TV and try and say like they understand football more, and sometimes I want to say 'b**t'."