Richard Sutcliffe: City's England sextet prove folly of pre-judging big-spending Blues

Since Sheikh Mansour assumed control at Eastlands a little over two years ago, it has not even been a topic of debate.

City, thanks to the cash injection that shows no sign of abating despite already running into hundreds of millions of pounds, have been tried and found guilty for crimes against the game in this country so many times it is a wonder this season's kit does not feature stripes like those seen on prison uniforms in all the best films.

The charge sheet invariably reads as follows:

Responsible for English football becoming ever more ludicrous? Guilty, m'Lud.

The abandoning of youth development in favour of big money signings? Guilty.

And, finally, importing foreign players by the bucketload to the detriment of English talent. Guil.... oh, hang on.

After the events of Tuesday night in Switzerland, surely the third of those charges can now be laid to rest after Fabio Capello's side ended their most encouraging 90 minutes in a year with no less than six City players on the field.

There was Joe Hart in goal, the 23-year-old who looks set to be England's No 1 for the next 10 years and beyond. Hart may have been signed from Shrewsbury Town in the days before City hit the Dubai jackpot but it was his performances in the past few weeks since deposing Shay Given that persuaded Capello to give him a chance.

Also starting in the 3-1 victory over Switzerland was Joleon Lescott, who moved to Eastlands last year after Mark Hughes had spent all summer pursuing the Everton defender.

Injuries to John Terry, Rio Ferdinand and Michael Dawson may have been behind Lescott winning his 10th cap, as did Capello's sensible decision to go with a central-defensive pairing that had played together at club level as opposed to bringing in Gary Cahill. But few could argue that Lescott looked untroubled throughout, dove-tailing neatly with former Everton team-mate Phil Jagielka.

In midfield, Gareth Barry and James Milner took the tally of City players to start the game to four and, again, both performed admirably. Milner did all that was asked of him on the left, diligently sticking to his task both in attack and defence with the only blot on the night being a yellow card that means the former Leeds United man must sit out next month's qualifier against Montenegro at Wembley.

Likewise, Barry provided the platform for Steven Gerrard to put to use the exemplary passing game that led directly to England's second goal.

The scorer was Adam Johnson, another City signing who capped a fine display by ghosting past goalkeeper Diego Benaglio with a delightful shimmy before rolling the ball into an empty net.

Completing the contingent of Blues players on the field at the final whistle was Shaun Wright-Phillips, though perhaps the best that can be said about the diminutive winger's efforts was he used his pace well to race clear of the Swiss defence before failing to pick out Darren Bent with what should have been a routine pass.

The presence of all six was the perfect antidote to the carping of City's critics, who would also do well to remember that but for John Terry yet another Eastlands player, Wayne Bridge, would have been in the squad travelling to Basle. Bridge is, it seems, unlikely to go back on his decision to play again for England. But that does not mean Roberto Mancini's side won't, in the near future, match Manchester United's feat of 2001 when seven Old Trafford players featured in a 3-1 win over Albania. The reason for this is Micah Richards surely having made a strong case for a recall during the opening month of the Premier League season.

The Leeds-raised defender may not offer the attacking threat down the flank of Glen Johnson, but his ability to play right across the back four means a return to the international fold may not be too far away.

So many players from one club is a reminder of the days when United, who let's not forget have also spent big over the years, provided the backbone of the England team in the Nineties.

The Three Lions undoubtedly benefited from Paul Scholes, Gary Neville, David Beckham, Andy Cole, Nicky Butt et al competing at the very top of the club game, something City seem destined to do in the coming years. And if that isn't considered to be good news for English football, then I would hate to see what the bad news is.