Sir Alex Ferguson claims City's Yaya Touré may yet face United in Cup
• Ivory Coast midfielder due at Paris meeting on Saturday
• But Manchester United manager sceptical of City's claims
Friday 6 January 2012 12.26 GMT
* Article history
Manchester City's Yaya Touré scored the winner against United in last season's FA Cup semi-final
Manchester City's Yaya Touré scored the winner against United in last season's FA Cup semi-final. Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian
Manchester United are preparing for Roberto Mancini to pull a fast one by naming Yaya Touré in his starting lineup for Sunday's FA Cup third-round tie at the Etihad Stadium.
The Ivory Coast management informed City on Thursday that the midfielder was required to attend a team meeting in Paris on Saturday ahead of a flight to Abu Dhabi for a two-week training camp before the Africa Cup of Nations.
City officials confirmed the information, which appeared to rule Touré out of this weekend's encounter, for which Mancini has claimed he may not have enough players to fill his substitutes' bench.
However, Ferguson is not so sure. The United manager's knowledge of the tournament does not appear that extensive – his claim that Touré could be back inside 10 days is wide of the mark given Ivory Coast's first game is not until 22 January – but that did not prevent the Scot trying some managerial mind games.
"I am not sure Touré won't be available for Sunday," he said. "He probably will. I don't know the whole background but apparently, he doesn't need to meet up until Monday, I read somewhere, which suggests he should be playing on Sunday."
Touré himself has spoken of his disappointment at missing the game, which suggests the case is now closed.
Even if the former Barcelona man is missing, though, Ferguson is not convinced it can be as detrimental to City's chances of landing some silverware this season as Mancini seems to feel. "All the teams who have African players have never really suffered much," he said. "If you check the records, they all seem to sail through it.
"I don't think it makes a great impact when you have a squad of players. There are plenty to occupy those positions until they come back."
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