England defender Micah Richards returns for Manchester City's Premier League encounter with Arsenal - and is willing to commit to Eastlands in the long-term.

Richards, 19, has missed two matches over the past week due to a knee niggle but is ready to face the Gunners, the club he supported as a youngster.

Having been linked with a move away from City, he insists his future is with the blue half of Manchester and signing a fresh deal is on the horizon.

He said: "I have got two-and-a-half years on my contract and I am not going anywhere.

"There is no time scale in my mind, just when it's ready to be signed it will be signed.

"I am 100 per cent going to sign for the club. There's nothing to worry about. Things don't happen overnight."

February is a big month for Sven-Goran Eriksson's side in their quest to secure a European spot - they will apply for the Intertoto Cup if unsuccessful - with a clash against bitter rivals Manchester United following the visit of second-placed Arsenal.

Richards' comeback is timely then, although he would miss the United clash should he pick up another caution.

Nevertheless, he said: "I would be devastated to miss the derby but I have got a job to do tomorrow and if I have to take a yellow card so be it."

City remain unbeaten in 12 Premier League home fixtures this season but preserving that record will take an improvement on the FA Cup exit to Sheffield United and the disappointing draw at Derby.

Eriksson said: "It is a big one, a difficult one. We are meeting one of the best teams in Europe, for sure.

"They're playing wonderful football so if we don't defend well we will have a very difficult day. "I don't think it will end 0-0, there will be goals, hopefully from us."

Converting chances has been a long-standing problem for the Blues and one Eriksson hoped to solve with his first soiree into the January transfer window as a manager.

But with the Benjani Mwaruwari deal from Portsmouth in the hands of the Premier League and £5.2million signing Felipe Caicedo not arriving until next week the Swede will have to work with the current crop of forwards for now.

He continued: "I think we should score more goals. It is not such a concern that I'm not sleeping at nights - absolutely not.

"But we have been working on and off the pitch to try to solve it."

Teenager Daniel Sturridge has proved a successful outlet with two goals in as many games, producing the kind of display expected by those that have known him from academy football.

"We've been playing together for four or five years and he's always been touted as the best," said Richards.

"For me he is the best striker I have ever seen that age. He's not the type to get big-headed. "There are a lot of boys the best for their age at 18 or 19 but by the time they're 23 or 24 they fall away. I don't think he's the type to do that. He's sheer class."

Ecuador's Caicedo, like Sturridge, has a renowned left foot and the signing from Swiss side FC Basle also offers similarities to Chelsea striker Didier Drogba.

"He is a big, strong guy with pace," said Eriksson. "He has a very good left foot.

"At 19, he's good for now, very good, and good for the future. He will get even better.

"He played for Basle in the UEFA Cup and he plays international football so he shouldn't have any problem with the Premier League.

"With his pace and strength it should not be difficult for him.

"There is a little bit of Drogba, maybe. I am not sure if he will score as many goals as Drogba. That we will have to wait and see. But he is a good player and I am very happy to have him."

City's other capture of the transfer opening, 17-year-old Filippo Mancini, was at the behest of the forward's father, Inter Milan coach Roberto Mancini.

Eriksson admitted: "I haven't seen him play but Roberto wanted him to come here into our academy.

"How good he is, I don't know but he has played for Inter, so I think he will be good.

"If he is only half as good as his father it will be enough."

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