Yaya Toure backs Iheanacho to succeed at City

Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure has tipped young team mate Kelechi Iheanacho to be a big hit if he keeps his head down and continues to work hard.

The young Nigerian has been hitting the headlines for the right reasons this season as he scored once in the 3-0 defeat of Norwich City in the FA Cup at the weekend.

Yaya, who missed the opportunity to become the only player to win the African Footballer of the Year award five times last week, said good things about the Nigerian youngster.

“Yes, I am very close to Kelechi and he sees me as his mentor,” Yaya told SportingLife.

“I see him closely and I trust him and I have been trying to push him up. I know what I have done to encourage him to continue to believe in his talent,” he said.

On the future of Iheanacho, the midfielder believes that the forward could be a top player in no time.

“I see him as one of my younger brothers coming through one day. I hope that Kelechi can be one of the top players on the field in the future,” Toure said.

Iheanacho is being tipped to make the Manchester City squad for the Uefa Champions League after persistent injury has kept out Frenchman Samir Nasri.