Micah Richards' Citizenship To Continue - Manchester City Manager Mark Hughes

Micah Richards' inability to re-establish himself in Manchester City's first-team line-up, either in the right-back role Pablo Zabaleta occupies, or breaking-up the centre back partnership of Joleon Lescott and Kolo Toure, has prompted speculation linking the Englishman with a move to Aston Villa.

However, Citizens manager Mark Hughes is insists the player's future remains at Eastlands.

"Micah Richards is not going anywhere in January," Hughes said defiantly in British broadsheet The Telegraph. "He is a big part of what we are trying to do here and we know he can improve.

"Don't forget, he is still a very young man. His football experience is great for someone of so few years and sometimes he doesn't get enough credit for that. But he is nowhere near the finished article. There is a huge amount of potential still to be tapped into."

"He had a real burst of attention when he broke into the team but with a young player you always have a period where they plateau out.

"You have to get used to people taking a more critical view of you and maybe Micah has found that adjustment difficult."

The Sunday Mirror reported earlier in the month that it was Richards who was demanding showdown talks with Hughes over his perceived lack of playing time, and a move to Villa Park could be on the agenda. Manchester United and Chelsea were also said to be keen.

Alan Dawson