Micah Richards to be ready for Manchester City's European bid

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The England defender was ruled out of the latter part of City's Barclays Premier League campaign following a knee operation.

Although Richards has also been forced to miss the Blues current Far East tour and the forthcoming England friendlies against the USA and Trinidad, City medical staff have confirmed he will be OK to start pre-season training as normal.

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"Micah has been working hard with us after the season finished and he is at the stage now where if the season was still on, he would be able to fully train and probably play," said City's head physio Ally Beattie.

Whether Richards remains at City this summer remains to be seen. The 19-year-old is known to be unhappy at the uncertainty over Sven-Goran Eriksson's position and many fans fear if the Swede eventually leaves, so will Richards.

It is thought owner Thaksin Shinawatra will be told by chief executive Alistair Mackintosh in the Far East this week that the overwhelming desire among City fans is for Eriksson to stay.

Whether that results in Thaksin having a change of heart over the future of the former England boss remains to be seen, although with City due to learn their European opponents next month before they play their UEFA Cup first qualifying round in July, the quicker the matter is resolved the better it will be for all concerned.

Meanwhile, it has also been confirmed Nedum Onuoha will be fit for pre-season training as well after making encouraging progress following a dislocated shoulder.