Fitness tonic for City full-back

MICAH Richards is ready to ease Manchester City’s full–back crisis for Sunday’s Premier League encounter with Arsenal.

With Aleksandar Kolarov already ruled out for four weeks with a groin injury, the last thing manager Roberto Mancini wanted was to lose Gael Clichy as well. But the France international must serve a one–match suspension following his red card at Chelsea on Monday night.

Richards, who has been missing for a fortnight with a calf problem, should have recovered, though, allowing Mancini to switch the versatile Pablo Zabaleta to the other flank after he played in the right–back role at Stamford Bridge.

Although City didn’t spend too long mulling over the disappointment of their first Premier League defeat of the season as they headed into central London for their annual Christmas party, Mancini was still frustrated at the way a game which seemed to be his side’s for the taking slipped through their grasp.

It means the Blues may have been overtaken in top spot by Manchester United when their match against Arsenal gets under way. Not that Mancini seems overly perturbed at the prospect.

“After 15 games we are on the top, with two more points than United,” he said. “The season is long. We have said that before. We are strong enough to start winning again and one result doesn’t change anything.”