Big-money graduate from the Old Trafford school has bags of talent but must show the application to go with it – or Keano won't be happy
Eyebrows were raised when Roy Keane paid £5.5m for Kieran Richardson in July 2007. True, he had been in and around the England squad (scoring twice on his debut against the USA in May 2005) and had received the usual thorough Old Trafford schooling. But that was a lot of many for a player without extended first-team experience, and after all, how often did Sir Alex let good players go? And what was the player's best position - wide on the left, in central midfield or at left-back?
In truth, many questions remain unresolved. A stress fracture of the back prevented Sunderland’s big-money buy from establishing himself at the Stadium of Light during the 2007-08 season, although Richardson showed flashes of inspiration when fit.
The former Manchester United man had spent five years at Old Trafford, but made only 20 league starts for the 2008 champions. He enjoyed his most productive top flight spell during a four-month loan with West Brom under Bryan Robson in the 2004-05 season, playing a dozen games, mainly in central midfield, as the Baggies unexpectedly avoided the drop.