Micah Richards is taking his Under-21 recall as a clear signal from Fabio Capello that the door remains open for a call-up to the full England squad.

A chest infection forced him to pull out of the squad to tackle Portugal and Lithuania in European Championship qualifiers, but Micah is determined to persuade England's coach that his form merits a senior place.

The senior national squad is already bulging with Blues, no fewer than six of his team-mates - Joe Hart, Joleon Lescott, Gareth Barry, James Milner, Adam Johnson and Shaun Wright-Phillips - helping to beat the Swiss.

But his early-season form for City has clearly impressed the England camp, and Richards said: "I want to push on and get in the seniors now, and there is no reason why I can't if I'm starting in Manchester City's team."

Stuart Pearce, once a leader of a full-back himself, made Micah his Under-21 skipper and City manager Roberto Mancini has expressed his conviction that Micah has the ability to be up among the very best.

Micah said: "When the boss has confidence in you that definitely helps your game, and for him to say that if I concentrate I can become one of the best defenders in England is quite a compliment to get from your manager.

I wouldn't say I've got the hunger back because I never lost it

 

"But I think the increased competition in our squad has made me play a little bit better. I want that to continue for the rest of the season!

"If we can win something for the fans and I'm playing well, then there's no reason why I can't get back in the England squad."

Teenage prodigy Richards, now 22, won the first of his 12 full caps back in 2006 but has seen other players step ahead of him during Capello's reign and knows he might have to be patient.

He smiled: "I think James Milner holds the record for Under-21 caps with 45! And Gareth Barry played a lot of games as well - but that shows you can use it as a stepping stone to the senior side."