Welcome back, Micah

The City kit boss and former Latics star writes every week for Chron Sport

MICAH Richards produced a superb performance on his return from injury to Manchester City’s team in the 3-0 victory over Sunderland - despite spending three months on the sidelines.

It was probably our most assured display of the season so far, and our first clean sheet of the current campaign.

Sunderland were by no means at their best — for a team which usually causes all sorts of problems with attacking flair, the Black Cats were unusually subdued. But our own performance was full of energy, creativity and resilience at the back.

Micah slotted in at centre-half in the absence of injured skipper Vincent Kompany, and he looked as though he had never been away.

Another one who missed the first month or so was Gareth Barry, and he was excellent in the centre of the park at the weekend. He helps our midfield to tick, going quietly about his business. We looked all the better for his return to the line-up.

Gareth is very highly thought of by all of his team-mates because he works so hard. Sometimes that graft is off the ball, so he doesn’t dominate the spotlight like others.

With Micah and Gareth now in the reckoning, it gives our squad further options, which we will need in a long, hard season.

It was nice to see Adam Johnson at the Etihad Stadium — AJ left us in the summer to join Sunderland.

I had a chat with him in the tunnel immediately prior to kick-off, but unfortunately he was under the weather and couldn’t complete the match.

He will have been happy with the positive reception he received from the City fans.

Our supporters know when a player has given a lot to the cause and that was reflected in the ovation they afforded AJ. With regular first team football at the Stadium of Light, hopefully he can force his way back into the England team.






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