Manuel Pellegrini: 'Wilfried Bony still important for Manchester City'

Manuel Pellegrini has insisted that Manchester City striker Wilfried Bony will be a prominent member of the first team next season.

Bony netted just his second goal for the Citizens in this afternoon's 4-2 win at Swansea City, from whom he joined the Sky Blues for £30m in January.

The Ivorian, who received a warm reception from Swansea fans, has seen much of his 2015 hampered by injuries, but Pellegrini says he will come into his own next season.

"That was the reception that he deserved because he was a very important player here in Swansea," he told reporters.

"He was very unlucky maybe this year when we bought him because he started by going to the Africa Cup of Nations and he came back with a lot of games in his body. After that he had an important injury in his ankle and his knee in the same leg, so he stopped for about three or four weeks.

"After that we won five games in a row and I didn't want to make changes during this moment, but I'm absolutely sure we bought the player that we need. I am absolutely sure that he will be an important player in our future."

After the clash, Bony said that it felt "strange" to score against his former club.