Fabio's first-choice: Liverpool defender Glen Johnson (left) is likely to start

His ability to learn, meanwhile, is not in question. One source described him as a willing worker and first-team coach David Platt has been instructed to spend time with Richards encouraging him to be more attacking.

It was Richards' work in advanced positions that earned him such stellar reviews after the United game and Mancini wants more of the same.

Perhaps Capello doesn't want this from his full backs. Perhaps he was also put off by the way Richards was troubled by Franck Ribery during City's Champions League defeat at Bayern Munich, although Mancini blamed Samir Nasri for leaving his team-mate exposed.

Whatever the case, it seems a long way back for Richards when it comes to England.

The virtues everybody else sees are clearly invisible to Capello - and it is understood the Italian has made no attempt to explain his decision to Richards.

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