Micah Richards for the World Cup

If ever there was a player who needed a new manager to give his career a shot in the arm, it's Micah Richards.

About 18 months ago he was making consecutive appearances for England at right-back, scoring goals for club and country, and looking like a big-money move to one of Europe's best clubs was only a matter of time.

Then, under Mark Hughes, nothing. Nada. Couldn't even get a game sometimes. In one of the most spectacular losses of form since Socrates came out of retirement, both he and Richard Dunne were incapable of making any kind of impression on the strikers they were up against. Which, let me remind you, included Mamady Sidibe.

Now, in just three weeks under Mancini, he has made a screaming return to what he does best; bombing up the flanks, taking men out with tank-like tackling, exerting his pace and power at all times, and chipping in with the odd goal. With Man City also among the nouveau-riche of the league, top-level European football also looks to be on its way.

Surely, the time has now come for Capello to very quickly recognise the talent that Richards has always had, and get him into the England set up to replace Wes 'I'll play anywhere just not very well' Brown. Hell, if he plays to his capabilities he ought to be starting ahead of Johnson, and should be first or second choice reserve centre-back.

If I picked the England squad tonight:

GK: Green, Hart, James

DEF: Johnson, Richards, Terry, Ferdinand, Upson, A.Cole, Warnock

MID: Lampard, Gerrard, Barry, Lennon, J.Cole, Beckham, Parker, Downing

ATT: Rooney, Crouch, Defoe, Walcott, Heskey