New Rochdale signing Nathan D'Laryea believes Manchester City's academy deserves recognition for the way they bring through young players.

The midfielder is delighted that former City teammates Micah Richards and Shaun Wright-Phillips are now England regulars and told the Manchester Evening News: "I had experience with both of them and played alongside Micah in the reserves quite a lot and you could tell then that he was going to be a really good player.

"As to Shaun, though I knew him and he was different class, I actually knew his brother Bradley a lot better."

D'Laryea, who hasn't yet started a game for Dale because of a knee injury, believes the emergence of Richards is testimony to the good work of the City Academy.

"A lot of people say that with all the money flying around young players won't come through but City are still proving that if you are good enough you will get your chance, as young Michael Johnson is showing," he added.

"They also have Stephen Ireland there and he is a fantastic player who is doing it for his country as well."