Richards back for City

Manchester City and England defender Micah Richards will return for Sunday’s Barclays Premier League trip to Portsmouth.

Richards, who was today included in England’s squad for their vital Euro 2008 qualifier against Croatia, has recovered from a twisted knee.

City will be without England Under-21 midfielder Michael Johnson, who manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has confirmed needs a groin operation.

Johnson has been troubled by the problem for some time and City felt action was necessary after he was forced out of Monday’s win over Sunderland.

Eriksson said: “He is being operated on for groin problems. If we are lucky he will be back in three or four weeks but I am not so sure.

“It is a pity but we had to do something. He started the season well but for the last month and a half he has had problems every second day. It is better this way.”

Team (from): Isaksson, Hart, Richards, Corluka, Onuoha, Sun, Dunne, Garrido, Logan, Ball, Ireland, Dabo, Hamann, Geovanni, Fernandes, Petrov, Elano, Samaras, Bianchi, Mpenza, Vassell.