Center back Chris Richards, a vital element in the U.S. World Cup campaign, is in a race against time to be ready for the tournament after tearing two ligaments in his left ankle, Crystal Palace coach Oliver Glasner said Thursday.
Richards will miss Sunday’s Premier League finale against champion Arsenal and is 50-50 for the UEFA Conference League final against Spain’s Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday in Leipzig, Germany, Glasner said.
The U.S. opens camp Wednesday in the Atlanta area ahead of friendlies against Senegal on May 31 in Charlotte and Germany on June 6 in Chicago. Its Group D opener is June 12 vs. Paraguay in Inglewood, California.
“I think it’s stable, but quite swollen, and we have to deal with the swelling,” Glasner said. “He has to get back on the pitch to be available, and it takes time.”