Overview
- Crystal Palace’s 25-year-old center back exited in the 75th minute after heavy bleeding around his right foot/ankle, with staff cutting off his boot before he was stretchered away.
- Manager Oliver Glasner said the wound required stitches and reported the doctor’s view that it “doesn’t look so bad,” though he could not say if Richards will be ready for Sunday.
- Glasner expressed hope Richards might return against Fulham on Jan. 1, but no official update has detailed the injury’s severity or recovery timeline.
- Will Hughes replaced Richards as Palace reconfigured their defense during the Carabao Cup quarterfinal, which Arsenal won 8-7 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
- Any time out would test Palace’s already stretched squad and adds to USMNT concerns ahead of the 2026 World Cup, following Tyler Adams’ MCL tear that is expected to sideline him for 2-3 months.