Oliver Glasner is hopeful that Crystal Palace defender Chris Richards will be fit to play against Fulham on New Year’s Day.
Richards was stretchered off with a foot injury during Crystal Palace’s penalty shootout defeat to Arsenal in the Carabao Cup quarter-final on Tuesday night.
After receiving lenghty treatment from the Palace medical staff, Richards was taken off in the 75th minute after suffering a blow to his right ankle.
The USNMT star, who has started every Premier League game for Palace this season, required stitches on his ankle and is unlikely to be available for Sunday’s clash with Tottenham at Selhurst Park.
Asked to provide an update on Richards, Glasner said he did not expect the centre-back to be available against Spurs, but admitted he was hopeful he could return for Palace’s first game of 2026 at home to Fulham.
“He got a knock on his foot, a stamp on his foot, and it had to be stitched,” said Glasner. "I don't know how many stitches, but a few.
“The doctor told me it doesn't look so bad. I'm always hopeful. We have to be hopeful.
“I don't know if he will be okay for the Tottenham game, but I'm still hoping that he will be back against Fulham.”
Palace’s squad is stretched thin, with a raft of injuries leaving Glasner short of options, and the Austrian admitted that with Daniel Munoz having undergone knee surgery and Daichi Kamada out until the new year with a hamstring injury, he could not afford to lose any more players.
“We have 16 on-field players. We can't afford to miss anyone else.”
