CITY star Micah Richards has been stranded in a holiday resort after contracting swine flu.

The England international, 21, said he had been struck down with the bug during a break in Cyprus. He is taking Tamiflu medication but has been told not to fly home until he has a clean bill of health.

He told a newspaper: “At first I thought it was a really bad chest infection, or maybe alcohol poisoning. I felt so weak I couldn't move or eat.

“When I was told I had swine flu all sorts of things started going through my mind. You see on the news people dying of it.”

The footballer - who is staying in a five-star hotel near the resort of Ayia Napa - said he hoped to be able to fly home on Sunday.

He added that he expected to face some jokes from his Manchester City team-mates when he got back to the club.

“They will probably all turn up to training in surgical masks,” he said.