Richards a 'big part' of plans

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Earlier this week Richards dismissed speculation linking him with a move away, suggesting such comments were "absolutely ridiculous". With three-and-a-half years remaining on his current contract - at the age of just 21 - and City a club challenging the big four this season, Richards recognised he would be insane to walk away.

"When you look at the way this club is going, who in their right mind would want to leave?" he asked.

Rather than Richards departing, there is talk City are looking at the prospect of him signing a new five-year deal to follow in the recent footsteps of Stephen Ireland, Nedum Onuoha, and this week, Vincent Kompany.

Hughes said: "He is a big part of what we're doing here.

"I've said for a number of weeks, when questioned about players' futures, we're in the process of building and creating a team and a squad of the right quality.

"So we're not in the process of taking the squad apart and letting good players leave.

"It's about making sure we have the right quality right across the board, and Micah is a big part of that."