BBC African Footballer of the Year 2011: Expert's view -Yaya Toure

Individual football awards have always shown a bias towards strikers, the guys who more often than not, score the goals.

That should change with the BBC African Football of the Year Award for 2011 with Ivory Coast and Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure in the running.

The giant 28-year old may not grab the headlines on a weekly basis but that is more down to where he plays on the field than how effective he is as a footballer.

I am convinced he has done better than any African footballer in the year under review.

Toure's blend of brute strength and fantastic technique has made him a mainstay of a Manchester City team brimming with talent from all corners of the globe.

The fact that he is one of the first names on Roberto Mancini's team sheet is a testament in itself to his qualities as a footballer.

Toure also has incredible all round ability.

He has been solid when tracking back for City in the last year, provided a strong shield for their defence and been equally effective when contributing to the attack.

Last season he scored eight goals as City booked their place in the European Champions League.

He scored three in the FA Cup including the crucial lone goal in their 1-0 win over Stoke City as they went on to win their first major silver ware since 1969.

This season he has already scored three goals for the side including, a crucial brace against Villareal that got Manchester City's Champions League Campaign firmly back on the road.

And with Ivory Coast he was influential as the Elephants stomped their way to a place at the 2012 Nations Cup.

Toure's form in 2011 and his contribution to making Manchester City the force that they are in English football is a timely reminder that football is not always about the out and out striker.

No African player did as much on an individual scale and for that he deserves the highest individual accolade in the sport.