Chris Richards is trending closer to a U.S. men’s national team return.
Richards was a full participant in training on Monday as the USMNT kicked off their FIFA World Cup training camp in Irvine, California. The veteran defender did not feature in either of the USMNT’s friendlies over the past eight days against Senegal and Germany, opening concerns over his availability for the tournament entirely.
“Today, [it’s Richards] first time with the team,” U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino told reporters. “It’s good to have nearly everyone ready to be selected for the [Paraguay] game.”
Richards had been out of action overall since suffering torn ligaments in his ankle on May 17 with his club, Crystal Palace. The injury occurred in the final stages of a 2-2 Premier League draw with Brentford, which forced Richards to miss the Eagles’ final two matches of the season.
Although he did dress for the UEFA Conference League Final on May 27, Richards did not play in a 1-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano. It marked the third trophy lift for Richards in the past 16 months with Crystal Palace.
Richards’ USMNT absence led to all four of the center backs on the roster earning minutes over the past eight days. Captain Tim Ream logged 117 minutes in the two friendlies and Miles Robinson played 107 minutes, while Auston Trusty and Mark McKenzie both played 73 minutes apiece.
While Pochettino did not officially guarantee Richards would be available for Friday’s Group D opener against Paraguay, the 26-year-old’s return to training is a welcomed sign.
Source: Sbisoccer.com
