The former England and Manchester City star last featured in October 2016

Micah Richards is set to be released by Aston Villa after 665 days without playing, according to reports.

The former England and Manchester City star last featured in October 2016 when Villa drew 1-1 with Wolves.

2 Villa are expected to let Richards go

He has not been in the club’s squad since September 2017, when he was an unused substitute for their 2-0 Carabao Cup defeat to Middlesbrough.

Villa have played over 100 games and two years have passed since he last turned out in claret and blue.

Richards, who has struggled with injuries for most of his career, remains on a £35,000-a-week contract, meaning he has been paid £3.3million since he last played and is still one of Villa’s highest earners.

2 Richards has struggled with injuries

And now, according to the Sun, Villa manager Steve Bruce has asked the club’s owners to find ways of ending his deal to free up some cash.

Richards is contracted to the club until the end of the season.