MICAH RICHARDS AIMS TO DROP DOWN
City defender targets England comeback with Under-21s
MICAH RICHARDS aims to resurrect his England career by dropping down to the Under-21 side this summer.
The out-of-form Manchester City defender admits he is hurt by being snubbed by Fabio Capello.
But he said: "If I am picked I am ready to answer the call for this summer's Under-21 European Championship, no doubt about it.
"It is a prestigious competition and with the players England can call on we can certainly give it a good go.
"I missed out two years ago with a knee injury but it is a great chance to show Stuart Pearce and Mr Capello that I want to work my way back into the senior side. It would be nice to win a trophy with England, it has been a long time since that happened."
Richards, 20, was England's youngest-ever defender when he made his debut aged 18 in 2006.
But he has not played since November 2007 and he admitted: "I would be lying if I said it didn't hurt when I was dropped.
"I feel I was a little unlucky to get an injury at the wrong time and then Wes Brown and Glen Johnson both came in and did well.
"But it is up to me to fight my way back into the England side."
This article has 1 comment
Three seasons ago Micah Richards was, if you'll excuse the expression, the 'great white hope' of english football. Why he went off the boil we'll never know, was it the hard work catching up with a boys body, or could it have been the young man believing all the hype that surronded his run of good displays. Did he believe he only had to turn up and step onto the pitch without putting in the hard work. The young man showed great potential, playing at rightback. It was mentioned, quite rightly, that he would probably, at some time in the future, become a very good centrehalf. unfortunately Manchester City saw the future as the very next season. Far, far, too early. I just hope the young man can find his way again, for it was a joy to watch him playing with a smile on his face.
By villan450years . Posted January 31 2009 at 8:26 AM.