The return of Richards

"Micah got the headlines because of the goal, but I thought he played with real determination, getting forward and having a positive effect in the opposition half. He was tiring towards the end because of the amount of energy he has expended in two games during the week.

"Maybe in a few games this season he's lacked a bit of the confidence you would expect, but he's still a young man. We forget sometimes that he's only 20. He's had quite a number of games for somebody so young, but you will have fluctuations in form and that's what has happened to Micah this year.

"There have to be allowances for the fluctuations that all young players have. When they burst onto the scene, they shine brightly, but then there's a point where you need to take them out of the firing line.

"Maybe Micah hasn't had that opportunity because he's such an outstanding player and athlete that it's taken a couple of years for him to have a dip in form and that's a credit to him.

"For a consistent run of many games, he was outstanding but his form this year, along with others, has fluctuated. I haven't been in the position to give him the rest he possibly needs on occasion.

"That's when form is affected, but he's come through it - he's played his way through it and that's important. Now he seems to be coming good again at the business end of the season."

>>Mark Hughes

Inevitably with an international break upon us that the spotlight falls again on Micah Richards after he was overlooked once again by Fabio Capello. Richards himself has been speaking of his ommission from recent squads:

"It does hurt when the England team get together," said Richards. "I played 11 games on the bounce for England and I thought I played well in all those games.

"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 a fine job and it has been hard for me to get back in.

"But my confidence is back again. I'm enjoying my football again at right-back and I feel like I'm knocking on the door."

There is no doubt that the move back to the right back position has benefited Richards after really beginning to struggle in the middle, and he is showing some good form of late - although talk of being 'back to his best' is a little overstated. As Mark Hughes stated, it is easy to forget how young Richards is and that dips in form are very much part of the growing pains of a young footballer.

Richards was unfortunate that he was injured when both Wes Brown and Glen Johnson ran into form, but there is an overriding feeling within the game that Fabio Capello simply doesn't rate Richards as being technically good enough at the top level. It is a point open to discussion but there is a definite truth to that view from the games I have seen him play for England. He is a young player though who is still learning the game, and one thing an absence from the England squad will do is sharpen both his attitude and focus, which should benefit ourselves in the process.