While Micah Richards has two cup-ties and a possible Wembley appearance on which to focus at the moment, he has also another goal to pursue, as the Telegraph's Rory Smith reminds his readers.

His preview of Wednesday's Carling Cup semi-final return leg at Old Trafford reveals that Micah's ambition to earn an England recall for the World Cup finals remains undiminished.

Rory writes: "Richards, England’s youngest-ever defender and just 21, has been exiled from international football for two years. Whatever the reason for the enduring silence from Fabio Capello, it is not the player’s personality which is the problem.

"He is affable, considered, polite. He bears no grudges against the Italian who has studiously ignored him. Rather, he is only concerned with impressing the one whose immediate impact at Eastlands has reignited the calls for his international career to resume.

“'Roberto Mancini has brought a confidence to the team,' he says. 'You look at Dedryk Boyata, who’s only 19, playing against United. It shows the confidence he has in his players, and that is reciprocated.

“'Everyone believes in him, in his tactics. We do a lot of work on shape, training without the ball to improve our positioning, and on set pieces. Earlier in the season we were losing focus and that is what he is trying to improve.

“'For the moment, I am just concentrating on doing well for City. I do not feel as though I have had two lost years with England, more two years to learn. If I keep working hard, and we keep playing the way we are, I believe I will get back into the squad.'

Smithy's piece concludes: "Under Mancini, City are finally going places. So, too, is Richards. On Wednesday, it is Old Trafford. Wembley and South Africa are up next."

Not such a perfect summer for Ricky Hatton though, according to the People. They report that he wanted to stage his June comeback fight at the City of Manchester Stadium but pitch preparation will prevent that.