Ivory Coast duo return just in time to aid Man City against Toon

Newcastle United have won just one of their last 18 matches against Manchester City in all competitions, and have not beaten them in the Premier League since 2005 when Michael Owen got the sole goal of the game.

The Citizens have defeated the Magpies to nil in five of their previous six meetings, meanwhile, so are odds-on at 2/7 for victory again, and a more enticing 21/20 to do so without conceding.

However, Newcastle’s last win against City came in their most recent encounter in the Capital One Cup at the Etihad this season, when they downed the holders 2-0.

On top of that, the Premier League champions are in miserable form, having lost two of their last three in all competitions (2-0 again) at home (winning none). It seems that 2-0 victories on the road are popular with Man City recently, as each of the last four away fixtures between them and the Magpies have ended in that result.

Newcastle, therefore, are 10/1 chances to cause another upset again by winning, and a highly tempting 100/1 by that scoreline once more. A draw, meanwhile, is priced at 4/1.

But two City stars have returned from the Africa Cup of Nations with champions Ivory Coast, in Yaya Toure and new signing Wilfried Bony.

The former Swansea City striker spoke ahead of the game. “It’s not easy because I’ve just arrived from Africa and I will have had five days of training before we play Newcastle,” Bony said. “I have to take it step by step and wait for the right opportunity to present itself.

“I’m not 100 per cent just yet and as I say, I’ve only just arrived so we will see. I still have another couple of days of training but I need to take things step by step.

“If I am needed, I have a good record against Newcastle and I’ve scored three goals in two games against them. They are a good side and are strong at the back but they are coming to our stadium and we need to win this game.”