USA star Chris Richards is handed his first Premier League start for Crystal Palace against Manchester United as the defender aims to keep out Red Devils debutant Wout Weghorst at Selhurst Park
- Chris Richards is set to make his first Premier League start for Crystal Palace
- The USA international has been named in their XI to face Manchester United
- Richards will be tasked with keeping out new United striker Wout Weghorst
- He has only previously started for Palace in a League Cup win over Oxford United
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American defender Chris Richards is set to make his first Premier League start for Crystal Palace after being named in their team to face Manchester United.
Richards, 22, completed a $13million move to Palace from Bayern Munich back in the summer and has so far made five appearances for the English club.
His only previous start came in the Eagles’ League Cup win over Oxford United, with his three Premier League outings all coming as a substitute.
USA defender Chris Richards is set to make his first start for Crystal Palace against Man United
But that is due to change on Wednesday, as the USA center-back is in line for his first start against none other than United, England’s most decorated club.
Palace are taking on Erik ten Hag’s in-form side at Selhurst Park, where they will be aiming to deliver their first Premier League defeat since November 6.
And Richards, who has earned eight caps for USA, will be tasked with keeping new United striker Wout Weghorst at bay in south east London.
Weghorst only completed a loan move to Old Trafford from Burnley five days ago and is now being thrown straight into action by Ten Hag.
The Dutchman is being flanked by Marcus Rashford and Antony in attack, while Bruno Fernandes sits just behind in the No 10 role.
Richards will have his work cut out on his full Premier League debut, which comes following an injury to first-choice defender Joachim Andersen.
Andersen, who has featured in 17 of Palace’s 18 league matches this season, is expected to spend three weeks on the sidelines after picking up a calf injury in their 1-0 defeat away at Chelsea on Sunday.
In his absence, Richards slots in alongside Guehi at center-back and the former FC Dallas star now has the chance to make the spot his own.
Wednesday’s match against United will only represent his 40th top-division appearance in Europe, 30 of which came on loan with German club Hoffenheim.
Richards spent two seasons on loan at Hoffenheim before completing his move to Palace, having only featured 10 times over three years at Bayern.
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