Former Manchester City boss Stuart Pearce says they've never managed to find cover for Yaya Toure.

City have slipped five points behind Chelsea since Toure left for the Africa Cup of Nations in January.

"Manchester City's record without Yaya Toure is so bad," Pearce told talkSPORT. "They need an adequate replacement to cover for injury or the Africa Cup of Nations.

"Whenever he's away from the football club they miss him. He's a talisman for Man City.

"If he doesn't play well then the whole team suffers. That's the biggest problem they've got."