I'll be back with a bang, insists Manchester City's Micah Richards

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Richards was forced to undergo surgery to repair cartilage damage to his right knee at the end of last month, and was told he would be out for around six weeks.

However, the 20-year-old insists he is making swift progress and believes he could be back quicker than anticipated.

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City slicker: Micah Richards tackles United's Anderson during the defender's final appearance before undergoing knee surgery

"I had the operation nearly two weeks ago and things are looking good. Hopefully, I could be back even sooner than the six weeks," Richards said.

"The operation was something that couldn't be avoided. I played in the derby at Old Trafford (a 2-1 win on February 10) with it hurting.

"In the second half I picked up an ankle knock as well, so I was a wreck by the end of the game.

"After the Everton match (a 2-0 defeat on February 25) the knee was swollen like a balloon and I couldn't carry on.

"The medical advice was to get it done before the end of the season, and that is what I did. It is for the best in the long term.

"I hate missing games, especially at such a crucial time but I will be giving it 100 per cent to be fit as soon as I possibly can.

"I will be back, and I will be back with a bang."

Earlier last month Richards ended intense speculation regarding his future by signing a new five-and-a-half-year contract at the club.

The England star maintains, though, all the talk was "a big fuss for nothing" as he never had any intention of walking away from City.

"The talk about my contract had become quite annoying to be honest," added Richards.

"It wasn't as though I was in the last year of my old deal. I still had two and a half years to go and some players only sign for that amount of time.

"Now I am glad it is all over, the deal has been signed. There has only ever been one place I wanted to be, and that's City."