Richards happy with wide role

The 19-year-old finds himself in the unusual position of being an England regular at right-back while playing in central defence for his club, Manchester City.

"No matter which position I am chosen in, I will give it 100%," he said. "But for now I get most enjoyment bombing down the wing and getting involved in the play. I am young and enthusiastic and just want to get down the wing as much as I can."

He added: "It's when I get older and start losing my legs a little bit - that's when I reckon I will move into the middle."

City boss Sven-Goran Eriksson made a point of contacting his successor as England manager, Steve McClaren, during the summer to gain an assurance that Richards' continuing role for City would not have an adverse effect on his international career.

Although there had been some talk of Richards occupying a central berth against Russia on Wednesday if John Terry was unfit and Sol Campbell's body could not stand the strain of two matches in five days, it appears the young City defender will remain where he is.

Terry's presence in central defence alongside Rio Ferdinand during the final stages of England's 'Field Turf' practice at the Blessed Thomas Holford Catholic College in Altrincham turned out to be one of the least surprising events.

Having flagged up the possibility of using Frank Lampard in a three-man midfield in the Luzhniki Stadium, where victory will guarantee England a place at Euro 2008, coach Steve McClaren kept together the same four-man formation he used against Estonia on Saturday.

And, instead of moving Phil Neville into the left-back role Ashley Cole's ankle injury prevents him from occupying, the Everton captain's club colleague Joleon Lescott was there instead.

So, unless McClaren has a sudden change of heart, Lampard will again be on the bench and Lescott, who was handed his debut as a half-time substitute against Estonia on Saturday, will be given his first senior start in the most testing circumstances possible.