Leroy Sane, Yaya Toure still crucial for Yaya City: Pep Guardiola

Leroy Sane and Yaya Toure

Pep Guardiola has assured Leroy Sane and Yaya Toure that they have important roles to play at Manchester City as his unbeaten side prepare to face Crystal Palace. Sane, 21, started for just the second time this season as City beat West Brom in the League Cup, taking their return to six wins and a draw from their seven league and cup games. He celebrated by scoring twice in a 2-1 win while Toure also started, used for the first time this season by Guardiola, who had left him out of his squad altogether in recent weeks.

Guardiola praised Sane for his midweek performance. "He played so well, not just in terms of goals, although his second goal was fantastic, but also with the way he kept the ball, how he could not lose the ball and fighting," the manager said. Toure has had a fractious relationship with the City manager although Guardiola insists that the Ivory Coast player, too, has a role to play. "We need him and of course it's not easy for the players who didn't play in the last games," said Guardiola.

"But he showed his personality because it's not easy for him to play in these type of games. But he did it well and we are going to use him."