LONDON (AP) 鈥� 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 .
The 26-year-old Richards went down in the second half of Palace鈥檚 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.
鈥淗e tore, I think, two ligaments in his ankle,鈥� Glasner said Thursday after confirming that Richards would sit out Sunday鈥檚 season finale against Arsenal. 鈥淚t鈥檚 now 50-50 for him, for us that he can play the (Conference League) final.鈥�
The injury will be a concern for US coach Mauricio Pochettino, who is days away from announcing his World Cup squad.
鈥淚t鈥檚 stable, but it鈥檚 quite swollen, and now we have to deal with the swelling,鈥� Glasner said. 鈥淥f course, he needs to get back on the pitch to be available, and it will be really a race against time.
鈥淗e is in from sunrise until sunset having treatments,鈥� Glasner added.
The World Cup runs from June 11 to July 19 in the U.S., Mexico and Canada.
and open against Paraguay on June 12 in Inglewood, California.
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