THE WAITING GAME: Richards (ankle injury) won’t play vs. Senegal in World Cup warm-up

Chris Richards is recovering from an ankle injury.

By Michael Lewis

FrontRowSoccer.com Editor

Defender Chris Richards, who is nursing an ankle injury, won’t travel with the U.S. men’s national team for its World Cup warm-up match against Senegal in Charlotte, N.C. on Sunday.

Richards will remain at the National Training Center in Fayetteville, Ga. to continue his rehab.

“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 [to see] how he is,” head coach Mauricio Pochettino said during a press conference on Saturday morning.

Pochettino admitted that it was “too early” to see if Richards, a strong candidate to start on the backline, would be available to perform in the squad’s World Cup opener against Paraguay in Inglewood, Calif. on June 12.

“We need to see,” Pochettino said. “The next few days are going to be key to see the possibility to be ready or not on the World Cup.”

Richards injured his ankle while playing for Crystal Palace in the Premier League in England. He made the bench but did not play in Palace’s 1-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano in the UEFA Conference League final.

The U.S. doesn’t have to submit its official 26-man roster to FIFA until June 1.

Teams also can replace an injured player on their roster a day prior to their opening match.