Micah Richards expects competition for first-team place

Micah Richards has admitted that he could face stiff competition for his place in the Manchester City first team when he returns from injury.

The defender fears that he could be drawn into a three-way contest with Pablo Zabaleta and new signing Maicon for a place in the starting XI.

"The manager has been playing a 3-5-2 formation, so there's more chance that I'm going to play if he goes with that," The Sun quotes Richards as saying.

"But if he plays a 4-4-2, it's going to be me, Zaba and Maicon battling it out for the right-back position.

"I don't mind though, I've had competition all my life. I've been here seven years and I'm still going, so a little bit of competition just makes it a little bit better."

Richards, who picked up an injury playing for Team GB in the Olympics, is expected to make a comeback at the end of the month.