Manchester City boss Sven Goran Eriksson hailed Micah Richards after performance in their victory at West Ham.

Eriksson admitted: "He's absolutely fantastic. He must be one of the strongest football players I've ever seen - and quick and good on the ball.

"Manchester City are very lucky to have a player who can play right-back or centre-back. I think he is as strong and commanding as Sol Campbell, but he is even quicker than Sol.

"Micah should have been picked as a reserve for the World Cup. He was in our minds then but he was injured so I couldn't pick him."