Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini is frustrated at Micah Richards slow return to fitness.

The England international has been on out since October after undergoing knee surgery, and was supposed to return at the end of February.

A strange situation

However the 24-year-old hasn’t returned to training yet, and Sky Sports have reported that the City manager can’t understand why his right-back is still sitting on the side-lines: “This is strange. I don’t know how it is possible.

“I don’t know (the problem). His knee was not 100 per cent. He continued to work. Now it is two months that he has been working.

“I think maybe in three or four weeks he will be ready.”

The Citizens signed Brazilian, Maicon in the summer transfer window, but the full-back has gone on to play just seven Premier League games all season.

Funny business

While this is a poor record for such a fairly high profile signing, in comparison to the amount of game time that Jack Rowell and Scott Sinclair have been getting it looks impressive. Sinclair has started just two games all season, and Rodwell has started in just four games – making them seem like the forgotten men of the Premier League.

City play Barnsley in the FA Cup Quarter Final today, and their next Premier League fixture is against Everton on the 16^th of March.