BRETT MARTEL
AP Sports Writer

RECIFE, Brazil (AP) — Ivory Coast coach Sabri Lamouchi says he expects Manchester City star Yaya Toure to be ready for the team’s World Cup opener against Japan on Saturday.

Toure has been working his way back from a hamstring injury he sustained late in the Premier League season.

The 31-year-old midfielder is a three-time African player of the year.

He scored 20 goals during the 2013-14 season for Manchester City, helping the team to the Premier League title.

Sabri says not all of his players are “100 percent,” but says all of them will be available to play. That includes veteran striker Didier Drogba, who was seen limping off the practice field Wednesday.

Defensive midfielder Didier Zokora says Toure’s availability is “very important,” calling him “a key to the Ivory Coast team.”

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