Why isn’t Chris Richards playing for the USMNT against Senegal in the pre-World Cup friendly?

Chris Richards will not be able to get a feel for his side’s flow and fizz ahead of the World Cup as they take on Senegal in a pre-tournament friendly in Atlanta on Sunday.

The Crystal Palace defender is a confirmed absence in the game and a potential doubt for the USMNT’s tournament opener against Paraguay in just over a week.

Richards is currently recovering from an ankle injury that kept him on the sidelines for Crystal Palace’s final games of the season, including their first ever European trophy win, the Conference League, where they beat LaLiga side Rayo Vallecano by a goal to nil.

“We decided with Chris for him to not be part of the group”

When asked about the player’s fitness, USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino thought it was “much better” to take things slowly rather than rush him back: “We decided with Chris, ⁠with ‌the medical and the performance staff, (for him) to not be part of the group that is going to be in North Carolina ⁠playing tomorrow against Senegal."

“I ​think he needs ‌to keep doing his rehab, and I think it’s much better ⁠to stay here ​and plan to train and reevaluate next week how he is. I was asking from yesterday, (when Richards) arrived, to (assistant coach) Jesus 100 times: ‘What do you think, what information ⁠do we have?’. The answer was, ‘Wait, wait, wait, ​wait.’ Yes, it’s too early. We need to see. The next few days are going to be key.”

The USMNT begin against Paraguay on Friday, June 12 at 9:00 p.m. ET at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, before facing Australia on Friday, June 19 at 3:00 p.m. ET at Lumen Field in Seattle. Mauricio Pochettino’s side then return to Los Angeles for a final group-stage showdown with Turkey on Thursday, June 25 at 10:00 p.m. ET, again at SoFi Stadium.

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