Although it is not certain Toure will be at Carrington, manager Roberto Mancini has made it clear the Ivorian would be welcome despite his failed drugs test becoming common knowledge.

City officials have clarified the situation and have been informed there is no reason for Toure not to attend.

Whether the 29-year-old actually takes up the offer depends upon other factors, including the potential for meetings with his legal team.

However, Toure's attendance at yesterday's 1-0 win over Wigan at Eastlands is seen as a good sign at a time when the player's mental state has been described as "not good" by Mancini.

"It is a bad moment for him," added the City boss.

Club sources are reluctant to discuss any aspect of Toure's case, preferring instead to keep their counsel ahead of what is sure to be a tense FA hearing, when the former Arsenal player could be banned for anything up to two years.

City made it clear in a statement released before yesterday's game that they found external interventions "unhelpful", including those from Arsene Wenger, even though it is widely assumed he spoke out on Friday with the permission of the former Arsenal player.

The Blues are anxious to point out disciplinary sanctions, including dismissal, have not been discussed inside the club and that it would be inappropriate to speculate until such time as the case is concluded.

Beyond question is that Toure's absence is a blow Mancini could do without given the massive number of games City are playing at the moment.

Thursday brings a Europa League encounter with Dynamo Kiev in the Ukraine, when City's major preparation will be rest.

"We are tired because we have so many games and so few players," said Mancini.

"We have tired bodies and minds. When you play every three days the brain is tired. It is very difficult."

Aside from the points, gained thanks to a quite horrific first-half blunder from Ali Al Habsi who allowed David Silva's shot to squirm from his grasp, the major positives for the Blues were the returns of Vincent Kompany from a hip injury and Nigel de Jong, the one player who has not been sent away to recharge his batteries.

"Nigel needs to work because he has been out for a month," said Mancini.

"It was important for him to return to play.

"He is not ready yet but in another two days he might be ready for Kiev."

Of Shaun Wright-Phillips and James Milner the news was vague.

Neither man will be in Kiev as they battle to overcome respective back problems and there is just an outside chance Wright-Phillips will be involved in next weekend's FA Cup sixth-round tie with Championship outfit Reading.

"I would be happy for us to play badly from now until the end if we always win," reflected Mancini on a rather fortunate success that allowed City to close the gap on second-placed Arsenal to just four points.

"But I don't think it is possible.

"If you don't play well, you can win one or two games but no more.

"That is why it is so important to get our players back.

"When they have recovered we will play well."

And that would mean pre-season aims of a Champions League spot and a trophy being realised in a season that has brought so much trauma in the form of Carlos Tevez's transfer request and the bombshell that has exploded around Toure.

"It is an exciting time," said Mancini.

"Every situation is good for us at the moment; in the league and the cups.

"Next week it is Reading, this week it is the first of two matches in the Europa League. We go there on Thursday to get a good result."