Chris Richards, a prominent defender for the United States soccer team, is in a race against time to recover from an ankle injury as the World Cup approaches. The tournament, which the United States is co-hosting with Mexico and Canada, is set to begin soon, and Richards’ participation is uncertain due to his recent injury.

Richards suffered a tear in two ligaments in his ankle during a Premier League match while playing for Crystal Palace against Brentford. The injury has kept him out of action, including missing Crystal Palace’s Conference League final victory.

US team coach Mauricio Pochettino has decided to leave Richards out of the squad for an upcoming friendly match against Senegal in North Carolina. Pochettino emphasized the importance of Richards continuing his rehabilitation and being reevaluated next week to determine his readiness for the World Cup.

“We decided with Chris, along with the medical and performance staff, that he should not be part of the group playing against Senegal,” Pochettino stated. “He needs to focus on his rehab, and we’ll reassess his condition next week.”

In Richards’ absence, veteran defender Tim Ream has been named captain of the US team. Ream, who has made 80 appearances for the national team, is praised by Pochettino for his leadership both on and off the field.

The United States will kick off their World Cup campaign against Paraguay on June 12 at SoFi Stadium near Los Angeles. The team is hopeful that Richards will recover in time to contribute to their efforts on home soil.

Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.