Micah Richards in his column at the BBC, has said that team mate Michael Johnson has the capability to play for England one day.
Yours truly agrees with the nineteen year old Manchester City and England defender. Both Richards and Johnson are 88 born- Richards in June, while Johnson entered this world in February. There has always been immense competition for a spot in England’s midfield. Currently the likes of Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Owen Hargreaves, Michael Carrick, Joey Barton and Gareth Barry are the frontrunners for the two spots in central midfield, with most coaches opting for the pair which looks best on paper- Gerrard and Lampard. Both are individually very gifted players, but haven’t been able to replicate their club form while playing together for country. Hargreaves did impress in the World Cup but suffered from a broken leg which kept him out for most of the 2006-07 season.
Johnson looks wonderful while playing for City. He has improved tremendously in the last year or two, and can be one of City’s greats ( somebody like Colin Bell) if he continues to tread on the path that he has charted out for himself in the future. And who better to speak about a young talent than Richards himself, who became England’s youngest ever defender when he played against the Netherlands in November 2006.
Johnson has played for England at the U-19 and U-21 levels. If he continues his good work, it won’t be long- a few years at best, before he gets an England call up.