Boateng sidelined by knee injury

Boateng (l) has made 24 appearances for Man City this season

Manchester City full-back Jerome Boateng will require surgery after suffering a knee injury on duty with the German national team.

Boateng picked up the problem in the warm-up for Saturday’s Euro 2012 qualifier against Kazakhstan.

The 22-year-old flew back to Manchester on Monday for treatment.

The injury is a fresh blow to City’s hopes of Champions League qualification after already losing right-back Micah Richards to a hamstring problem.

Boateng, a £10.5m signing from Hamburg in June 2010, did not make his City debut until late September because of injury but has since made 24 appearances for the Blues.

He was sent back to Manchester after being ruled out of Germany’s friendly with Australia tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Richards is to install an oxygen chamber in his house in a bid to be fit for City’s FA Cup semi-final with Manchester United on April 16.

Richards is a major doubt after he was stretchered off during England Under-21’s 4-0 thrashing of Denmark on Thursday.

“I will do anything and everything to be ready for that game,” Richards said. “I knew straight away what I had done because I heard the dreaded ping. It is a bit sore but I’m hoping it is not too bad.

“Some of the other lads have used an oxygen tent to help them recover more quickly from injuries so I am willing to give it a go.

“I will sleep in the thing if necessary. I want to be available for that game against United. It is going to be a great occasion.”

City are chasing seeking their first appearance in a major final since 1981.

In the league, they currently occupy the fourth Champions League qualification spot, but are 10 points behind leaders United and only four points ahead of fifth-placed Tottenham, who have a game in hand.