US star Chris Richards returns in Hoffenheim’s Bundesliga defeat
The United States international played his first league game coming off from the bench after recovering from a foot injury he suffered in January.
Chris Richards suffered a foot injury while on national duty in the United States’ 2-0 defeat against Canada in the World Cup qualifiers in CONCACAF back on 30 January. The road to recovery was long for the USMNT defender and he missed seven consecutive Bundesliga games with Hoffenheim and the final batch of the qualifiers last month.
Richards came off from the bench
The good news is that Chris Richards reached full fitness and made his return with Hoffenheim on Saturday in the 2-1 defeat against VfL Bochum. The USMNT defender came on replacing Kevin Akpoguma right before the start of the second half when Hoffenheim was losing 1-0.
This was a tough defeat for Hoffenheim, the second one in a row, because they are making a push to qualify to the Europa League. They sit in sixth place in the Bundesliga with 44 points, one behind fifth place SC Freiburg, and they have a record of 13 wins, five draws and 10 losses.
Chris Richards has made an immediate impact since arriving to Hoffenheim during the summer transfer window after playing on matchday 2 with FC Bayern Munich. The USMNT defender has made 18 Bundesliga appearances so far this campaign and 11 have been as a starter.
The United States international is on his second loan spell with the Bundesliga side, but he is still under contract with FC Bayern Munich. Earlier this year, the German giants confirmed that they are willing to listen to offers to sell Chris Richards during the summer transfer window.