05/21/26 04:05:00
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05/21 15:47 CDT US defender Chris Richards has ankle ligament damage ahead of
World Cup
US defender Chris Richards has ankle ligament damage ahead of World Cup
LONDON (AP) --- United States center back Chris Richards tore ligaments in his
ankle, Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner said Thursday, three weeks before
the start of the World Cup.
The 26-year-old Richards went down in the second half of Palace's 2-2 draw with
Brentford on Sunday in the Premier League. He could return for the UEFA
Conference League final next Wednesday against Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig.
"He tore, I think, two ligaments in his ankle," Glasner said Thursday after
confirming that Richards would sit out Sunday's season finale against Arsenal.
"It's now 50-50 for him, for us that he can play the (Conference League) final."
The injury will be a concern for US coach Mauricio Pochettino, who is days away
from announcing his World Cup squad.
"It's stable, but it's quite swollen, and now we have to deal with the
swelling," Glasner said. "Of course, he needs to get back on the pitch to be
available, and it will be really a race against time.
"He is in from sunrise until sunset having treatments," Glasner added.
The World Cup runs from June 11 to July 19 in the U.S., Mexico and Canada.
The Americans play in Group D and open against Paraguay on June 12 in
Inglewood, California.
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AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup
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