Micah Richards has claimed that Manchester United players get straight in to the England squad whilst players like him have to work twice as hard to get recognition from his country.

“Had McClaren been still in charge, I would have had 60 caps by now,” said Richards. “McClaren believed in me and Capello believed in people like Phil Jones and Smalling. That’s the way it was and that’s fair enough. They are great players. Capello and I had one chat. He told me I went forward too much but that’s the way they want me to play at City. I also did hear that he thought I was hanging around with people like Rio too much at England training, but when I was younger I looked up to Rio and when I was with England he took me under his wing. Another manager told me Capello had said I was hanging round too much with the senior pros. He thought I was big-time. What’s that got to do with anything? I didn’t know anyone else! I didn’t deserve not to be in Capello’s squad and that’s the painful thing. He played Jagielka ahead of me in one game even though he hadn’t played right back for about six years. How am I supposed to take that? Then Tom Cleverley played half a good game at Wembley (in the Community Shield) and was in the next England squad. I was buzzing because Tom is my mate but what is that about? If you play well for United you will get straight into the England squad. At other clubs it’s harder. I graft every week but feel I have to try twice as hard to get recognition.”