USMNTs Chris Richards likely to be OK for World Cup after serious injury scare

Chris Richards seems to have avoided the worst-case scenario.After Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner told reporters Thursday that Richards “tore two ligaments in his ankle,” a source close to the situation told The Post the US national team regular is expected to be fine for the World Cup.Richards, according to the source, is expected to miss 7-8 days after getting a scan, and has a chance to play in the Conference League final against Rayo Vallecano next Wednesday.A US Soccer spokesman declined to comment on Richards’ status.Richards injured his ankle in the second half of Palace’s 2-2 draw against Brentford over the weekend but finished the game before being helped off the pitch.Glasner initially called it a twisted ankle, while expressing hope Richards could return this week.

He sounded far less optimistic Thursday, though it’s worth noting that, since English is his second language, the Austrian may have described the injury more harshly than is warranted.“Chris will miss the Arsenal game [this weekend], and it’s now 50-50 for him and for us if he can play in the final in Leipzig,” Glasner said.“He tore two ligaments in his ankle.

I think it’s stable but quite swollen, and we have to deal with the swelling.He has to get back on the pitch to be available and it takes time.“He is in from sunrise until sunset having treatments and everything we can do that reduces the swelling.

And of course we have a great medical department, so we will give it our best and he will give his best — and then let’s see if we can get it done.”With the possible exception of Christian Pulisic, Richards is the player the US can least afford to lose.Not only is he the most dependable American center back, but the position as a whole is one at which the team lacks depth.

If the USMNT is still worried about Richards aggravating the injury or not being at 100 percent, the situation may call for bringing an extra center back — possibly Tristan Blackmon �...