Fair play Macca, hope Micah does you proud

Last updated : 15 November 2006 By Ben Collins
I must admit, I was pleasantly surprised to see the 18-year-old given his first international call-up last week.

Well, he has played for England's U21s but getting called up for the senior team is a different kettle of fish. Richards has done well with the youngsters but for him to get the big gig after just 23 league starts for City is quite remarkable.

Also, the club has barely had any recognition from the national team in the last 20 yrs. Since Keith Curle at Euro 92, only 2 City players have played for England - David James and Shaun Wright-Phillips - and Jamo was already an established squad member when he joined City while the calls for SWP to make his debut were deafening by the time Sven finally gave in.

And Richards is a defender. There's always clamours for in-form strikers to be given a chance at the top level, maybe enough tricky midfielders, but defenders?? They really have to show some potential if they are to get a call-up so Richards must certainly be doing well for City.

Richards has also established himself as a right-back. No-one really cares about right-backs, and what chance was there anyone getting a look in with Gary Neville having had England's number 2 shirt all to his own for about the last 10 yrs.

However, Steve McClaren has shown some faith in Richards - a great deal of it - and he is eager to see more. Ricahrds might have got a run-out against Holland tonight anyhow, but after Neville was ruled out through injury, McClaren hasn't hesitated in throwing Richards in at the deep end.

Richards will make his England debut from the start tonight, and fair play to McClaren. Not only did the new England coach give him a call-up - ignoring the fact he's still a kid and that he plays for City - but he's actually prepared to give him a real go too.

Friendlies were wasted by Eriksson, he never used them correctly, but McClaren seems to have learnt from the clueless Swede. Even if Neville was fit, what would he have learnt from playing him in Amsterdam tonight. The same goes for Jamie Carragher, normally next in line, but again McClaren knows exactly what he'll get from the Liverpool man.

Now he'll get a chance to look at a true novice on the international stage and get a glimpse of what the future may hold for England. Let's hope Richards really is one for the future for England, but the most important thing is that McClaren is willing to give him a chance.

I'm sure he'll do himself and the club proud.