Mamadou Sakho ban: Kolo Toure predicts 'difficult' period for Liverpool team-mate

Toure was banned for taking fat-burning pills while at Manchester City


 Sakho (left) is believed to have tested positive for 'fat-burners' (Getty)
 (Getty)

Liverpool defender Kolo Toure has admitted he is yet to speak to team-mate Mamadou Sakho about the defender failing a drugs test.

Sakho, 27, has been suspended by Liverpool pending a Uefa investigation after the European governing body revealed he failed a drugs test for diet pills after the Europa League draw with Manchester United; Sakho has played six matches, scoring two goals since that date.

Toure, who played in Sakho's place in the 2-2 draw with Newcastle United on Saturday, was banned for six months in 2011 while at Manchester City for failing a similar test for diet pills.

"I haven’t spoken with Mama to be honest," Toure told the Daily Mail. "But I’ve been there and it’s really difficult, definitely.

"I don’t want to remember that because it has been tough for me. I don’t even want to talk about that because it is very hard."

Sakho is yet to be charged by Uefa, while it is believed his 'B' sample is yet to be tested.

Still, the Frenchman is not likely to feature again this season and will definitely miss the Europa League semi-final first leg against Villarreal on Thursday.

Toure ended up missing only a month of football as the offence occurred in March 2011 - the defender admitted the offence but claimed it was accidental as he had been given the pill by his wife.

The former Arsenal defender is out of contract at the end of the season but it is unclear if he or Martin Skrtel will play on Thursday night.

The Slovakian, a favourite under Brendan Rodgers, has barely played under Jurgen Klopp, featuring in only two of 12 possible games since returning from injury in March.

Toure added: "It is up to the manager. For me the most important thing is the club, the team.

"You need to do your best for the club. If they call me up, of course I will be really happy. I think I did good (against Newcastle). I need to recover and I’m ready mentally."