By Micah Richards Manchester City and England defender

The operation I had on my right knee last week may have come as a bit of a surprise to some people - and it was sprung on me as well.

I had been playing through the pain but it was getting too much and Manchester City's physio Ally Beattie felt if I did not have it sorted now it could get worse and keep me out long term.

I am not on crutches and my leg is fine to walk on. I can drive too

They told me what was happening on Tuesday and I whizzed down to London on the train on Wednesday for the operation at the Lister Hospital in Chelsea.

It is the same place that I had surgery on my calves last summer and the same surgeon looked after me this time.

A couple of London clubs use him as well and when I spoke to Gary Lewin, the Arsenal and England physio, he said he was the right man for the job.

I stayed overnight and came back on Thursday. As you know, I am out for another five weeks now - and until next week all they want me to do is sit and rest. There is not much training I can do.

After that I will be back on the treadmill and building up the muscle that was lost. Then I will be in the pool and out on the grass doing more running. It is important to come back steadily.

I don't see so much of the other players while I am doing the rehab work. It can be quite lonely.

But I am always in touch with them playing Call of Duty 4 on the PlayStation 3 at home. All the young lads at City are involved playing that online.

I have been playing a lot of games since the operation. I could still go out about with my mates but I am wary somebody might knock my leg or something if I do.

We still play a lot of Pro Evolution Soccer too and, yes, it is a little bit weird when the commentator is saying 'and it is Richards on the ball' but it is nice to see myself on the screen!

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I don't play as City or England though, always as Barcelona and Brazil. I like to be Ronaldinho or Thierry Henry. They are the flair players.

I used to play Championship Manager all the time when I was younger. The older editions are the best because everything is nice and quick and I could get all the best players in my team.

It is too detailed now though, there are too many things to do and it is too technical for me when all you want to do is get on to your starting XI and your tactics without worrying about much else.

I still remember the first edition that had me in it when I was younger though - I was only about 16. I bought myself but I was useless so I had to drop myself!

I did not agree with my stats either. They under-rated me then! Hopefully I am a bit better now.

And I have been watching a lot of DVDs too. I have got a big collection, including Home Alone, which is my favourite film. In fact I've got the whole series of Home Alone films.

Since my operation, I have been on my own most of the time myself actually. My elder brother Marlon, who I live with, has not looked after me much because he is always at his girlfriend's.

I am all right though. I am not on crutches and my leg is fine to walk on. I can drive too.

And I was at Eastlands for our draw with Wigan on Saturday. I always try to support the boys.

I have got an executive box, which is where I watched the game from, but I went in the changing room beforehand and got them fired up.

I was disappointed with the result but we cannot let our heads drop now. Hopefully I will be back to help in the last four or five games of the season.

• Micah Richards was talking to Chris Bevan