Man City’s Richards ready to compete with Maicon and Zabaleta

Micah Richards insists he relishing competition from Maicon and Pablo Zabaleta to fill the right-back position at Manchester City.

The 24-year-old picked up an ankle injury while playing for Team GB at the London 2012 Olympics, ruling the defender out of City’s opening three Premier League games.

Argentina international Zabaleta has been filling in at right-back, while Roberto Mancini completed a £3m deal to bring Maicon from Internazionale to the Eastlands outfit.

“It’s probably going to take about two more weeks [before I return],” Richards told City’s website.

“It was hard, having been at the Olympics and then having to miss the first four or five games – it has not been easy.

“It’s especially hard when you know there are more players coming in and there’s more competition.”

He added: “I think you need a big squad. Sometimes last season we had a few injuries and we fell short of the mark sometimes and we didn’t really get the results we needed,” he reflected.

“The manager has been playing a 3-5-2 formation, so there’s more chance that I’m going to play if he goes with that. But if he plays a 4-4-2, it’s going to be me, Zaba and Maicon battling it out for the right back position!

“I don’t mind though, I’ve had competition all my life. I’ve been here seven years and I’m still going, so a little bit of competition just makes it a little bit better.

“I just can’t wait to get back and get back playing and to show everyone what I can do all over again.”

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