Richards: I’ve much to learn

MICAH RICHARDS may be a key figure in England’s plans to reach Euro 2008 tomorrow — but the Manchester City defender admits he’s not the finished article.

The 19-year-old is a certainty to win his ninth cap in Moscow as England look for a win over Russia that will book their place at next summer’s championships.

And Richards, who credits City team-mate and Irish international Richard Dunne as the major influence behind his startling rise, accepts he still has much to learn.

“I am still learning,” said Richards. “Richard Dunne has been such a big help to me.

“He is always moving me into the right positions and has given me confidence to believe in myself.”

With skipper John Terry over the knee injury that forced him out of Saturday’s win over Estonia, Richards will retain the right-back slot. Terry looks set to replace Sol Campbell as Rio Ferdinand’s central defensive partner.

Steve McClaren could retain his four-man midfield from Saturday — a bitter blow to Frank Lampard.

It was felt Lampard would figure in a three-man midfield with Shaun Wright-Phillips missing out. That is not how it was in training at Blessed Thomas Holford Catholic College, acclimatising to the artificial turf of the Luzhniki Stadium though, with Wright-Phillips occupying the right-sided berth in a four-man formation with Steven Gerrard and Gareth Barry at the centre.

Meanwhile Rio Ferdinand has revealed his determination to appear in his first European finals.

Ferdinand has participated in the latter stages of three World Cup finals in 1998, 2002 and 2006 but has missed out on the UEFA competition in 2000 and 2004.

Ferdinand said: “I’ve not been to a Euro finals. It is something I’d really like to tick off my ‘to do’ list but hopefully I can go one better than the World Cups and win it."