Richards tipped for call-up
10 Nov 2006 - 09:01:19
Manchester City defender Micah Richards looks set to be named in the England squad to face Holland in a friendly in Amsterdam next week.
The squad, which will be named later on Friday, will contain the England Under-21 international who has caught the eye of coach Steve McClaren despite the Citizens' inconsistent form this season.
Richards has played three times for the Under-21 side including both legs of October's impressive European Championship play-off victory over Germany.
Elsewhere, the squad is also set to be bolstered by the returns of Chelsea's Joe Cole, Tottenham winger Aaron Lennon and Everton striker Andrew Johnson after the trio missed last month's Euro 2008 qualifying defeat in Croatia.
Chelsea's Ashley Cole will miss out through suspension, but neither Wigan left-back Leighton Baines or Aston Villa skipper Gareth Barry look to have done enough to convince McClaren that they deserve a call-up.
England will be keen to bounce back from their 2-0 defeat in Zagreb last month and are no stranger to next week's opposition.
Two years ago the sides battled out a goalless draw in a friendly at Villa Park following a 1-1 stalemate in Amsterdam in 2002.
But back in 2001, the visitors were 2-0 winners over England in another friendly meeting at White Hart Lane.