Manchester City defender Micah Richards has been given the all-clear to start running again.

The Daily Mail says Richards will next week start running for the first time since undergoing knee surgery.

The 24-year-old met with his surgeon last week for a routine three-week check up.

And the defender was given the all-clear to stop using his crutches and start applying weight to his injured right knee.

Richards has already made trips to the club's Carrington training ground to complete post-surgery sessions before starting his main rehabilitation plan.

And Richards will start jogging from Wednesday as he starts on his long road to recovery.