Manchester City star Micah Richards admits he could have been lost to rugby.

Richards was regarded as a tremendous rugby prospect as a schoolboy at both union and league.

He had scouts drooling over his speed and the deceptive amount of power contained in that 5ft 11in, 13st frame.

He recalled: "I've been playing football since I was very young but I also played rugby in school because of my pace.

"I liked it because they just used to put me on the wing and I would score a lot of tries. I used to run the 100 metres and 200m as well.

"I loved all sports really but football was the one that did it for me. So after a while I didn't really bother with anything else.

"And you don't even have to ask me whether I made the right decision."