Gary Neville: Yaya Toure's the best midfielder in the Premier League

Gary Neville rates Yaya Toure as the best midfielder in the Premier League - but he has criticised how often he is fielded for Manchester City.

Toure has started all eight of City’s games this season - including last week’s League Cup win over Sunderland - and is set to be involved once again in Wednesday’s Champions League game against Borussia Monchengladbach in Germany.

Manchester United legend Neville thinks Etihad Stadium boss Manuel Pellegrini needs to be using the 32-year-old a little more sparingly if he is to get the best out of the former Barcelona star.

“He cannot play three games a week, that man,” the England assistant coach told Sky Sports. “He is a fantastic player, but I would leave him for your most important games.

“There is a problem around Yaya Toure. On his day, he's perhaps the best central midfield player in the Premier League, but the idea that you can get three equal performances out of him in a week now is impossible.”

Neville picked out three former Premier League stars who also reached the point where it became impossible for them to compete at the top of their games on a regular basis.  

“We've seen it with Steven Gerrard, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, these players that have maximum impact in teams,” he added. “They get into their 30s and physically they drop off; you have to manage these players.”