Aston Villa coach Remi Garde: 'Captain Micah Richards will inspire us to safety'

New Aston Villa boss Remi Garde has confirmed that Micah Richards will remain as club captain, backing the defender to inspire the struggling Villans to Premier League safety.

Richards returned from a one-match ban on Sunday as bottom-of-the-table Villa held leaders Manchester City to a 0-0 draw in Garde's first game in charge after replacing Tim Sherwood.

Richards, a Bosman signing from Manchester City in the summer, was given the armband by Sherwood, and the French coach says that he is happy to continue in the same vein.

Asked if he would keep the 27-year-old as his skipper, Garde is quoted as saying by The Mirror: "Yes of course definitely.

"I think he has done very well since the start of the season. We have had many chats and discussions already. He is a strong defender, a good guy in the group, an experienced man and he has done brilliantly against Man City.

"He has led the team to this point and I am very pleased with that. I am not surprised at all."

Villa, whose draw at home to City ended a seven-match losing streak, travel away to Everton on Saturday week following the international break.