Kolo Toure has said that his drugs ban has given him a lot of strength.

The defender is expected to feature in tonight's Carling Cup tie against Birmingham City after serving a six-month ban for testing positive for a banned substance which was contained in his wife's dieting pills.

"I have gained a lot of strength from this hard time and I just need to focus on the future," the 30-year-old told The Sun. "It is really important to get back to what I love to do - which is football.

"People know I am not someone to try and cheat. I was really unlucky but all the people at the club and in Ivory Coast gave me a lot of support - and the most important thing is now I am back."

The Ivorian signed for the Blues in 2009 from Arsenal for £16m.