Toure backs Sterling and Sane for the top

Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure feels team-mates Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane have the potential to become world-class players.

Manchester City star Raheem Sterling and manager Pep Guardiola.

Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure feels team-mates Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane have the potential to become world-class players.

Sterling has rediscovered his best form under Pep Guardiola after a difficult 2015-16 campaign, while Sane has developed into an important first-team member at the Etihad Stadium in recent months.

And their performances have not gone unnoticed by Toure. "If you look at Raheem or Sane, they are so quick. They can diversify the team so well when counter-attacking. So quick with the ball, without the ball. Raheem with the ball, without the ball," the Ivorian told The Mirror.

"I think they can be world class. I think for them to participate in Champions League, to be able to play against a big defender, they are going to learn more. I think those guys can make any defence, even in the Premier League or Europa or Champions League, they can make them suffer.

"In training sometimes when Sane or Raheem take me, it is so difficult. They are quick, they are sharp. When you see them they are hungry, they push them.

"I think you can see, when you compare Raheem from last year to this year, I see a massive change. That is down to [Pep] Guardiola, because now Raheem is full of confidence."

City, who sit second in the Premier League, hosts Monaco in the first leg of its Champions League last-16 clash on Tuesday.