Micah Richards
Amid rumours that he will offload players, Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has insisted that defender Micah Richards is in his plans.
New Premier League rules stipulate that each club must announce a maximum 25-man squad. Given City's bloated squad, player exits seem inevitable and some tipped Richards as a prime candidate to be sold.
Richards burst onto the scene at Manchester City in 2006 and forced his way into the England squad. However, he fell out of favour under Mark Hughes and has yet to make a first eleven spot his own again.
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News after City had beaten Club America on penalties in a friendly, Macncini said, “Micah is part of my plans… He’s played here for four or five years, and I think that he must improve.
“He has everything to do his job, but sometimes his concentration lets him down. Sometimes, his body is on the pitch, but his head is not. But I think that if we work on him, he will improve.
“You have to remember that he is only young. It is better for him that we work to improve every day, because he has everything he needs to become a strong player.”
Last season, Richards played 23 games for Manchester City , scoring two goals and providing one assist. His Eastlands contract expires in 2013.
