Manchester City defender Micah Richards is determined to fight his way into first team contention despite the plethora of star names now on the Eastlands payroll. "We have made some unbelievably good signings and I am sure expectation levels will be higher but I am looking forward to it, feeling good and raring to go," Richards told the club's official website. "The first challenge is getting into the side. No one is sure of a place if they are not playing well.

"There are a lot of household names here now but the youngsters like me, Nedum (Onuoha), Stephen Ireland - who was brilliant last season - and Michael Johnson are determined to push them hard.

"These are exciting times and the young lads who have come through the system will not let it faze them. Expectations will be raised in the dressing room as well as outside it."