Manchester City Champions League squad: Yaya Toure the big name casualty left out of Pep Guardiola’s squad

PEP GUARDIOLA has continued to show his ruthless side by axing Yaya Toure from Manchester City's Champions League squad.

The Ivorian, whose future has been in doubt ever since the Spaniard took charge of the club, will play no part in City's European adventure.

Guardiola faced the dilemma of banishing one of his overseas stars with UEFA demanding each side submit a maximum of 17.

And as expected, Toure is the man to miss out despite being included in the squad that comfortably beat Steaua Bucharest in the Champions League play-offs.

City only named 15 overseas players for the play-off encounter but with the signing of Claudio Bravo and the returns of Vincent Kompany and Ilkay Gundogan from injury, one player had to miss out on the call.

It is not the first time Guardiola has shown no mercy axing big names from his squad as England stopper Joe Hart quickly found out.

Manchester City will face their first match of the group stage at home to Borussia Monchengladbach on September 13 before travelling to Celtic 15 days later.

They then have back-to-back clashes against Guardiola's former club Barcelona.

City crashed out of the competition in the semi-finals against Real Madrid last season but will be hoping to go one better under their new boss.

Guardiola has won the competition twice with Barcelona.

Manchester City full squad

Goalkeepers - Claudio Bravo, Willy Caballero

Defenders - Bacary Sagna, Vincent Kompany, Pablo Zabaleta, Aleksandar Kolarov, Gael Clichy, John Stones, Nicolas Otamendi

Midfielders - Fernando, Raheem Sterling, Ilkay Gundogan, Jesus Navas, Kevin De Bruyne, Fabian Delph, Leroy Sane, David Silva, Fernandinho

Attackers - Nolito, Sergio Aguero, Kelechi Iheanacho