Manchester City defender Micah Richards has vowed to be "back with a bang" as he plans a return to action early next month.

Richards was forced to undergo surgery to repair cartilage damage to his right knee at the end of last month, and was told he would be out for around six weeks.

However, the 20-year-old insists he is making swift progress and believes he could be back quicker than anticipated.

"I had the operation nearly two weeks ago and things are looking good. Hopefully, I could be back even sooner than the six weeks," Richards told the Manchester Evening News.

"The operation was something that couldn't be avoided. I played in the derby at Old Trafford with it hurting.

"In the second half I picked up an ankle knock as well, so I was a wreck by the end of the game.

"After the Everton match (on February 25) the knee was swollen like a balloon and I couldn't carry on.

"The medical advice was to get it done before the end of the season, and that is what I did. It is for the best in the long term.

"I hate missing games, especially at such a crucial time but I will be giving it 100% to be fit as soon as I possibly can.

"I will be back, and I will be back with a bang."

Earlier last month Richards ended intense speculation regarding his future by signing a new five-and-a-half-year contract at the club.

The England star says all the talk was "a big fuss for nothing" as he never had any intention of walking away from City.

"The talk about my contract had become quite annoying to be honest," added Richards.

"It wasn't as though I was in the last year of my old deal. I still had two-and-a-half years to go and some players only sign for that amount of time.

"Now I am glad it is all over, the deal has been signed. There has only ever been one place I wanted to be, and that's City."

Manchester City owner Thaksin Shinawatra, meanwhile, will return to England on Thursday in a bid to steady the club.

The former Thai prime minister goes before his country's Supreme Court on Wednesday on charges of corruption.

However, the court have granted Thaksin permission to leave on a four-week trip, providing he reports back on April 11.

With City sliding down the Premier League table in recent weeks after a run of only two wins in 12 games, Thaksin believes his presence could aid a revival.

"That is my commitment to Manchester City," he said.

"I feel like they are losing too many games in the last three to four months while I am still busy. So I have to go back and tighten the bolt."

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