We are getting better — Silva

DAVID Silva has warned Manchester City's top–four rivals there is much more to come from the Blues.

City closed to within seven points of leaders United thanks to their 1–0 win over Wigan on Saturday.

Now they can forget about their pursuit of a Champions League place for a couple of weeks as they attempt to secure a passage into the Europa League quarter–finals by beating Dynamo Kiev and reach their first FA Cup semi–final in 30 years by overcoming Reading next Sunday.

It is not a bad position for a club who always appear to be on the brink of a crisis, the latest coming because of Kolo Toure's failed drugs test.

Silva scored the only goal of the game at Eastlands, thanks in no small part to a horrendous first–half mistake from Wigan goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi.

And he is confident City are only taking the first steps on the path to glory.

"There is a lot more to come," said the Spain international.

"It is difficult because it has been a lot of people's first season here. It is hard to gel and come together as a unit in that short space of time.

"But we have proved we are becoming more of a proper side and the more we play together the better we will become."

Like most of his team–mates, Silva has been given a couple of days off to recharge his batteries after an arduous few weeks ahead of the flight to the Ukraine.

It means there will be more focus on Toure, who must decide whether to have his B sample tested, or merely put together a defence of mitigation against the drugs test that could land him with a two–year ban.

Although it is not certain Toure will be at Carrington, manager Mancini has made it clear the Ivorian would be welcome at training.

City officials have clarified the situation and have been informed there is no reason for Toure not to attend.

Whether the 29–year–old actually takes up the offer depends upon other factors, including the potential for meetings with his legal team.

However, Toure's attendance at Eastlands on Saturday is seen as a good sign at a time when the player's mental state has been described as "not good" by Mancini.