Richards has increasingly looked like the sort of defender Palace cannot easily replace.
That is why this latest update feels significant. Glasner is quoted as saying the ankle is “quite swollen,” but added that Palace “have to assess it further” and that “hopefully he can return in the midweek.” For a manager staring at a European final, that is about as encouraging as an early injury bulletin gets.
Even if Richards has escaped a major setback, Palace may still have a short-term problem in central defence. Reports also suggest there is concern around Chadi Riad, leaving Glasner with a familiar late-season dilemma: protect key players, but keep the team competitive and balanced.
Palace have built much of their recent progress on organisation, intensity and trust in the back line. Take one or two pieces out of that structure, and the whole side can look more vulnerable. Richards, in particular, brings recovery pace and composure that are hard to fake in a one-off final.
There is also a wider layer to this. Richards appears to be firmly in the frame for the United States this summer, so any positive news will be welcomed beyond south London. An ankle scare at this stage of the calendar always raises alarms, even when the first signs are encouraging.
For now, Palace will wait on the swelling, the assessment and the next training session. If Richards is back quickly, the conversation shifts from concern to timing - and to whether Glasner can get one of his most reliable defenders ready for the biggest night left on the schedule.