Two players expected to be key for the United States at this summer's World Cup both limped off with worrying injuries in the Premier League on Sunday. Manager Mauricio Pochettino will be sweating after watching midfielder Brenden Aaronson and defender Chris Richards come off early in their respective games.
Pochettino is expected to name his squad for the tournament, due to be held across America, Canada and Mexico on May 26. The USMNT will then begin training the following day in Fayetteville, Georgia.
Aaronson went off with an apparent left knee injury while playing for Leeds in their 1-0 victory over Brighton. He dropped to the ground, rolled down his sock and held his knee before receiving treatment from club doctors. He eventually walked off the field gingerly.
Then, centre back Chris Richards finished Crystal Palace's 2-2 draw with Brentford on Sunday with a left ankle issue after landing awkwardly challenging for a header. Richards, who came on as a substitute in the 61st minute, finished the game but was seen being helped down the tunnel afterward and didn't appear to be wearing his left boot.
'Chris I think twisted his ankle,' said Palace manager Oliver Glasner, adding that 'it's quite swollen so we have to assess it further.'
It comes after midfielder Johnny Cardoso was ruled out of the World Cup because of a right ankle injury that requires surgery. His Spanish club Atletico Madrid announced the surgery on Monday. Atletico didn't give a timetable for his return. It also didn't immediately say when or where the surgery will take place. The 24-year-old Cardoso sprained his ankle during training last week. He has 23 appearances for the U.S. since his debut in 2020.
Midfielder Tanner Tessmann, who plays his club soccer in France with Lyon, is also dealing with a muscle strain.
The U.S. opens its World Cup campaign on June 13 against Paraguay in Inglewood, California. They also play Australia and Turkey in Group D.
