Mancini looking for Richards to continue improvement

The 23-year-old has the opportunity to impress another national team boss following this week’s departure of Fabio Capello, who had been overlooking him.

Richards has been behind Liverpool’s Glen Johnson, Chris Smalling of Manchester United, and Kyle Walker of Tottenham in the England pecking order despite his fine form for the league leaders.

Mancini has long trumpeted Richards’s potential but has warned the defender not to expect an immediate international recall – his last cap came in November 2010 – because he still has much to prove.

Mancini said: “Micah has everything to become a top full-back.

“I think he has improved a lot in the last year but he can still improve, he can do better. At this moment for the national team, probably Johnson or Walker are better. But I don’t want to say Micah can’t play for the national team – if he wants, Micah can play always.

“If one England manager has a choice of three – Johnson, Walker, Micah – one of these players stays out.

“Micah played for England with Capello but there are a lot of players in England and one manager can call only 20-22 for a European Championship.

“I think Micah can really be a top full-back but he needs to improve.”

City travel to Aston Villa tomorrow having got their title challenge back on track with victory over Fulham last weekend.

Mancini’s men endured a difficult January in which they lost to Sunderland and Everton and went out of both domestic cup competitions.

They have also encountered difficulties away from home, having won just one of their last six on the road in the league, but Mancini has played down any concerns.

“It is impossible to win away always, like we did at the start of the season,” said the Italian whose team, by contrast, have a 100 per cent home league record.

“You can win away but sometimes you can lose these games. Away games are difficult, not only for us, for all the teams.

“But until now we are top – we have done better than the other teams, away and at home.”

City could come up against three of their former players at Villa Park in Richard Dunne, Stephen Ireland and Shay Given, the last two of whom Mancini sold.

Mancini, however, does not believe the trio’s past will be a big factor in the game.

He said: “We are not playing Manchester City against Ireland, Given and Dunne – it is Aston Villa against Manchester City.”

City have been without their midfield inspiration Yaya Toure and the defender Kolo Toure since the January 3 defeat of Liverpool due to their involvement in the African Nations Cup with Ivory Coast.

That tournament ends as the brothers face Zambia in the final this weekend.