USMNT’s Chris Richards watches as Crystal Palace claims first European trophy in 120 years

While his U.S. teammates were in Greater Atlanta on Wednesday to open World Cup training camp, Chris Richards was some 4,700 miles east in Leipzig, Germany, for the end of Crystal Palace’s prolonged campaign.

Under common circumstances, the Alabama-born center back would have been in the lineup against Spain’s Rayo Vallecano in the UEFA Conference League final.

But because of an ankle injury suffered May 17, Richards watched from the bench as the Eagles claimed a 1-0 victory — the first European trophy in the 120-year history of the south London club.

Just seeing Richards in uniform was undoubtedly encouraging for U.S. Coach Mauricio Pochettino, who has few players as indispensable as his 26-year-old defensive anchor.

Richards is scheduled to travel to Atlanta on Thursday and undergo evaluations before joining training sessions ahead of Sunday’s friendly against Senegal in Charlotte.

The Americans will also face Germany on June 6 in Germany before heading west for the Group D opener against Paraguay on June 12 in Inglewood, California.

In other words, Richards has got about two weeks to further strengthen his ankle, regain his rhythm and reacquaint with his compatriots.

With lingering questions about the U.S. backline, Richards’ absence at the ultimate competition would be a massive setback. Charlotte’s Tim Ream, Toulouse’s Mark McKenzie, Celtic’s Auston Trusty and Cincinnati’s Miles Robinson are the other candidates for Pochettino’s two- or three-man partnership.

The injury, suffered against Brentford in the penultimate Premier League match, was initially called a twisted left ankle. Upon further examination, though, Coach Oliver Glasner said his U.S. player had torn two ligaments – an alarming diagnosis for both Crystal Palace and the U.S. officials.

As expected, Richards missed the league finale against champion Arsenal. However, the degree of damage was never disclosed, and Richards gradually worked his way back into training and traveled with the club to Germany.

With thousands of traveling supporters at Red Bull Arena, Crystal Palace went ahead in the 51st minute. Adam Wharton strolled unchallenged into a dangerous spot and ripped a 20-yard shot. Goalkeeper Augusto Batalla parried the ball into Jean-Philippe Mateta’s path for a one-touch finish from close range.

Moments later, Yéremy Pino’s free kick struck both of Batalla’s posts.

Glasner made just two substitutions in the second half and left Richards on the bench for European soccer’s third-tier competition, behind the Champions League and Europa League. Crystal Palace qualified by winning the English FA Cup last season.

By winning the Conference League, the Eagles secured a Europa League slot next season. It came in an otherwise difficult Premier League season (a 11-15-12 record for 15th place, just six points above the relegation zone) and an FA Cup campaign abruptly ended by sixth-division Macclesfield.

Richards finished the season with 33 Premier League appearances (31 starts) and 17 matches (15 starts) in other competitions for 50 games overall.