MICAH Richards has given City fans their second major boost in as many days by publicly declaring his loyalty.
Hard on the heels of Joey Barton's pledge of allegiance, England international Richards has confirmed he has not contemplated a footballing life beyond the Blues.
Speaking at the launch of the new `Adidas Techkit' performance enhancing training wear in Manchester yesterday afternoon, 18-year-old Richards was keen to stress that he felt he could be a City player for another decade.
He confessed that he just ignores the speculation about a big money departure to the capital and insisted that he is looking forward to Stuart Pearce building a side around the nucleus of homegrown players who are all friends on and off the pitch.
"I don't read the papers," smiled the teenager just hours after helping the Blues take their unbeaten run to six games and reach the FA Cup fourth round. I hear a lot of people talking but if I am still at City in ten years time then I will be happy. My focus has always been on improving my game and helping take this City team forward. I love playing for the club.
"Joey said the other night that he felt the team is going in the right direction and that is a belief we all share. We are six games unbeaten and still going in the FA Cup so there is plenty to play for this season.
"The manager has been top quality with me giving me my chance at 17 and I have got in the England squad playing at City so I am delighted with my progress. Stuart Pearce believes in me and I believe in him and hopefully we will be working together for years to come."
Richards has grown up alongside many of his current first team colleagues.
Stephen Ireland, Barton, Ishmael Miller, Stephen Jordan and Nedum Onuoha are all in the squad and the bond that the Academy players have is something that the teenager reckons makes playing for City so special.
Richards said: "There are a group of us who came up through the ranks and there is Georgios Samaras, who is a young player as well, so we could be around for a while yet.
"I think we are doing reasonably well.
"We socialise together, we don't just see each other at training. We are around one another's houses and that makes us a tighter unit.
"Getting to know one another really well helps with communication on the pitch. That is vital in any team."
Richards, who admits that he admires the skills of John Terry and Rio Ferdinand, has had a stint in midfield during Barton's absence.
And he may be deployed there again against Blackburn on Saturday night, though he has no definite preference when it comes to position but is content just to be learning his trade.
"I am happy to play wherever the manager puts me," he concluded. "I prefer centre back and right back, where I can get forward a bit more, but I will do my best wherever I am asked."
He is hoping to be asked to turn up for England duty again next month after earning a first cap in the friendly 1-1 draw against Holland.
But he has warned his growing legion of fans not to expect too much from him at that level - yet.
"I am still shocked that I was called into the England side and hopefully I will be in there against Spain in the next game," he concluded. "The important thing is not to over hype things."
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