Manchester City defender Micah Richards believes centre-back Joleon Lescott has proved once again just how good he is.
Lescott returned for Manchester City against Sunderland and gave an assured performance in a 3-0 win.
With captain Vincent Kompany out through injury, the 29-year-old played alongside Richards in the back line.
Richards told City TV: “He is a quality defender.
“A lot of people don’t understand how good he is – well, people do because he is playing for England – but he really is a top-class centre-back, one of the best in the league.
“I think last season and at the start of this season he has shown that.”
Richards’ own participation in a comprehensive defeat of the Black Cats came as a surprise.
The 24-year-old had not featured this season having injured an ankle on Olympic duty with the Great Britain side during the summer.
Richards said: “Obviously it is nice to get back after so long but it is nice to get a clean sheet.
“We had not kept a clean sheet this season so to come in and step into the back four – I thought the back four was outstanding.”
City now head into the international break after a strong start to the season, with 15 points from their first seven league games.
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