Hughes expects Toure to be fit for Premier League opener

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes expects Kolo Toure to be fit for next week’s Premier League opener against Blackburn after the Ivory Coast defender was forced out of Saturday’s 2-1 win over Celtic.

Toure, who joined City from Arsenal for 16 million pounds last week, lasted just 18 minutes of the friendly before coming off with a hip problem.

But Hughes is confident his new signing will be available for next Saturday’s Premier League clash at Ewood Park.

“He had treatment on a rash at the top of his hip this week and felt quite comfortable, which was why I picked him,” Hughes said. “But after about 10 minutes, he said it was bothering him, so we took him off straightaway.

“I don’t anticipate it will be too much of a problem and he should be OK for next week.”

Regardless of Toure’s fitness, Hughes is still looking to sign another defender. But with Everton refusing to accept City’s bids for England centre-back Joleon Lescott, Hughes hinted he might look at other targets.

“We have to make a decision on any player we are pursuing,” he said. “If we feel a certain deal has run its course, we will look elsewhere.

“Whether we have reached that stage with Joleon only time will tell. Obviously we can do deals right to the end of the transfer window.

“However, we would prefer to do our business as quickly as possible, ideally by the end of this week.”

Despite the defeat, Celtic boss Tony Mowbray insists his team are capable of causing Arsenal problems when the two sides go head-to-head for a place in the Champions League later this month.

“It is an exciting draw and a game we will go into believing we can win,” he said.

“The top four in the Premier League are on a different level to everyone else, as I found out last year with West Brom, and it is going to be a big ask for us.

“But I know we have players who can give them problems. We are good enough, we just have to take our chances when they come along.”

Craig Bellamy scored City’s winner five minutes into the second half after Chris Killen had cancelled out Gareth Barry’s strike before half-time.

There was also a first sighting in a City shirt of Argentina striker Carlos Tevez, who came on as a second half substitute for his debut after his 25 million pounds move from Manchester United.