Richards out for four months

Manchester City defender Micah
Richards has had knee surgery after he
was injured against Swansea on
Saturday and he could be out for up to
four months.
The 24-year-old picked up the injury
towards the end of City's narrow 1-0
victory, pulling up and holding onto his
knee without any other players close
by.
He was stretchered from the field while
wearing an oxygen mask and the
England international ended up having
an operation to mend a torn knee
cartilage.
The unfortunate Richards had only
returned to action at the start of
October, after picking up a heel injury
while on duty for Team GB at the
London Olympics.
Richards said: "The positive thing is
that the injury has been repaired so
the knee will be as good as new.
"I have a brace on it and I am using
crutches. I can't do anything at all for
the next four to six weeks and I am
probably looking at 12-16 weeks before
I am back in action.
"I knew straight away that it was quite
a bad injury. The knee locked and I
couldn't straighten it.
"I suppose it could have been even
worse and not repairable, so I am
being positive. Injuries are part and
parcel of the job but, with this coming
on top of the other one, I do feel a
little hard done to!
"I will be working as hard as I can to
get back as quickly as I can and I thank
all the fans who have sent their best
wishes."