Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini says his fielding of Dedryck Boyata is proof he believes in the club's youth system.

The Belgian has been filling in at centre-half in the absence of club captain Kolo Toure this month.

"It's important for the Academy that we have young players like Dedryck in the team, and it is good experience for the young players. They can learn from training with the rest of the team, and if they do well they will have a chance," Mancini told City's website.

"There are some other good players from the Academy and I hope we can play more of them. But what they need to remember is just because they are playing in or training with the first team that is not the end of the story just the beginning.

"Now is when it gets difficult, so they need to work hard and have the right mentality. It's important that they keep their feet on the ground. This is when you really start to learn how to be a footballer."