Kolo Toure is tipping new City sensation Dedryck Boyata to become a defensive great for the Blues.

The skipper is set to team up with the 19-year-old Belgian for the first time at Hull on Saturday, which will be the Blues' TENTH centre-back pairing of a season riddled with injuries and international call-ups.

But Toure feels City have uncovered a real gem in Boyata, who came to the fore when the captain was away at the African Cup of Nations, and when Joleon Lescott and Nedum Onuoha were out injured.

Now Toure says he aims to craft Boyata's raw talent and physical attributes to transform him into a Premier League star.

"When I started at Arsenal, I was playing with Martin Keown and Sol Campbell, and they were always helping me," said Toure. "That is what I will do with Boyata.

"He can be a top player. I saw him in all three games while I was in Angola, and even at the age of 19 he is really good and can be one of City's top defenders."

Boyata's promotion to the first team has been swift and startling, not least to the player himself.

And with Onuoha fit again, manager Roberto Mancini indicated there is a new pecking order at Eastlands by including Boyata in his starting line-up for the Carling Cup semi-final second leg at Old Trafford last week.

The manager warned, however, that he will be cautious in the way he uses Boyata in future, following the accepted football wisdom of giving young players short bursts in the first team.

Mancini view

He pointed out that Boyata had got his chance due to the absence of several first-teamers being unavailable through injury and because of the African Cup of Nations, but that he had grabbed his opportunity well.

"I thought that he could do well for us at that time but also that he could be a good player for us for the future," Mancini said. "He is still young, but he did very well at Old Trafford. I'm pleased with him.

"Dedryck does not have much experience now but after he has played five, seven or 10 matches he will have learned a lot and will be comfortable around other players.

"He has good players around him and playing at Old Trafford, against someone like Wayne Rooney or Ryan Giggs, is a great way to learn for him."

The unlucky Onuoha was probably top of that pecking order at the end of last season when his raw power and pace, allied to a sharp mind, made him the Blues' best defender.

He penned a new five-year deal and looked forward to his career blossoming at the club he has loved since growing up in Miles Platting.

But the arrival of Lescott and Toure for a combined fee of £38m changed all that.

Injury problems at unfortunate times have also dogged his season, and by the end of Mark Hughes' reign, the 23-year-old was disillusioned and pondering his future.

City knocked back a West Ham bid to take him on loan on deadline day, concerned by Vincent Kompany's groin strain which is set to rule the Belgian - a key player since being drafted in to central defence - out of the next two games at least.

Mancini will have to choose between Boyata and Onuoha again, although Lescott has been back in training this week and is closing in on a return after nearly eight weeks out with a knee problem that required surgery.

Do you think Boyata is better than Onuoha? Have your say.

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