USMNT’s Chris Richards suffers two torn ankle ligaments three weeks before World Cup | OneFootball

According to NY Times, Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner says United States defender Chris Richards has torn two ligaments in his left ankle, three weeks before the World Cup.

Richards, 26, twisted the ankle after coming on at the hour mark at Brentford on Sunday. He was treated on the pitch and completed the match.

He will miss Palace’s final Premier League game against champions Arsenal and is rated a 50-50 chance to face Rayo Vallecano in Wednesday’s Conference League final. The injury is considered stable but heavily swollen, with efforts focused on reducing it.

Richards has been a mainstay under Glasner, making 50 appearances this season, including the Community Shield win, and missing only four league matches. He has 36 senior caps, captained the United States in a friendly defeat to Portugal on 1 April, and has started four USMNT games this season.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side open their World Cup campaign on 13 June against Paraguay, with the USMNT roster due on 25 May. The timing of the injury is likely to concern Pochettino.

Even with the best care, it would be optimistic to predict Richards will be fully fit by the opener. That leaves Pochettino weighing up selecting a key centre-back who may not be ready until later in the group stage.

Glasner has not abandoned hope of having him for next week’s final, which suggests the tears might be among the least severe and manageable. Pochettino will also hope any push for a quick return does not carry a cost for the rest of the summer.

Source: NY Times