• World Cup

Toure struggling with injury

ESPN staff
June 11, 2014
Yaya Toure was only able to take part in light training with the Ivory Coast on Tuesday © Getty Images
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Yaya Toure is battling to be fit for the Ivory Coast's World Cup opener against Japan on Sunday.

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The midfielder has not been able to complete a full training session with his international team-mates since he underwent surgery to correct an unspecified problem in Qatar last month.

His recovery has already forced him to join the Ivorian squad late at their training camp in America and he was unable to take part in either of their two warm-up games against Bosnia and El Salvador.

Toure, the African footballer of the year, suffered a thigh injury in April but was able to return before the end of the season and helped Manchester City lift their second Premier League title in three years.

Now Ivory Coast head coach Sabri Lamouchi says his medical team are working hard to ensure Toure is available for the Group C clash with Japan.

"We will try and do everything to ensure he can play him," he said.

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