Richards is a Viera fan
Micah Richards will take a leaf out of his idol Patrick Vieira's book and get physical as he tries to consolidate his place in the England team.
Off the pitch, Richards is a gentle giant but he wants to draw on some attributes that can give him a crucial edge when Israel visit Wembley for Saturday's Euro 2008 qualifier.
The Manchester City defender was a huge fan of Vieira during the France star's time at Arsenal and also admired former Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane.
Both players used intimidation to mark out their territory with menacing effect and Richards is starting to bring a touch of those two enforcers to his own game.
Richards is only 19 but the boy already looks a man.
He has a muscular upper body and thighs the size of tree trunks, so it's safe to say any Israeli foolish enough to try to take him on will remember the force of his thudding tackles.
Richards agrees England will need a touch of blood and thunder in a crunch match that will go a long way to deciding whether they reach next year's Euro finals.
"I supported Arsenal when I was growing up so I admired Patrick Vieira," he said. "I would wear a Vieira shirt on the streets when I was young.
"I liked Roy Keane as well, they were my favourite two players. They were both aggressive box-to-box players.
"Vieira was all over the pitch and Keane had great leadership qualities as well.
"If you go into a tackle with a bit of venom like they did, you get a bit more respect from players. It's alright if it's fair."
With Gary Neville sidelined through injury, Richards is well on the way to making the right-back position his own and he believes he can keep it, even when the Manchester United star returns.
"If I am playing 100 per cent, I feel I am doing well enough to stay in there," he said. "I know Gary Neville is a legend but I see it as if you are playing well, you should keep your place.
"I don't see it as just keeping the place warm for him. I feel I've done well enough to stay in. It is up to the manager to decide.
"For now I see myself as a right-back. I am playing centre-half for Man City and long term hopefully centre-half with England.
"While I am still young and fresh I don't mind playing right-back. You get to go up and down and get more involved in the attacking play.
"It is strange playing there once every few weeks with England when you haven't been playing there with your club, It is a bit different but you get used to it."
England's players frequently get a rough ride for letting their millionaire lifestyles put them in a cosseted bubble far removed from the fans who pay their wages.
But Richards is determined not to forget his up bringing on the run-down Chapel town estate in Leeds. He may have the world at his feet but, with the help of his father Lincoln, he won't let them leave the ground.
"I still keep in touch with Chapel town mates," Richards said. "I saw them at Leeds carnival. It is a bit different here. We stay in nice hotels but I take it as it comes.
"I've got my own house with my brother, but my dad is around once a week keeping an eye on me.
"He is out in Africa in Ethiopia doing a soccer school for kids for three years, just trying to give kids a chance. I hope to get involved in that in the next couple of years.
"I've had a great opportunity but obviously I come from a rough area in Chapel town where a load of people around there don't have a lot.
"My dad just thought it was a good idea to give something back."
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