Chris Richards ruled out of games against FC Düren, Arminia Bielefeld with calf injury

Bad news for American youngster Chris Richards: a minor calf injury will prevent him from playing in Bayern Munich’s upcoming game against FC Düren in the DFB-Pokal. The game against the 5th-division team would have been a perfect opportunity for the 20-year-old to gain valuable first-team minutes.

“He can’t play,” head coach Hansi Flick stated at the team’s pregame press conference. “He had some problems with his calf muscles.”

Richards will also not be available for Bayern’s Bundesliga game against newly promoted Arminia Bielefeld on Saturday.

Richards enjoyed his first team debut against Hertha Berlin last week, where he logged his first assist — and would have had two had Thomas Müller not been standing offside. He went down with a calf injury, however, and was replaced by Benjamin Pavard in the 65th minute.

Flick said, “It took a bit of time, but it’s getting better. But we must be careful and integrate him into team training again step by step.”