Milan’s relatively calm start on the injury front has been interrupted during the international break, with Alexis Saelemaekers suffering an ankle problem at Milanello despite not being called up by Belgium.
The Belgian stopped training after twisting his ankle and underwent further medical tests. Milan are waiting for the results before setting out a precise recovery timetable.
Quick facts
- Saelemaekers sustained an ankle sprain in training at Milanello.
- He was not included in Belgium’s squad for the international break.
- The winger is certain to miss training until next week.
- His availability for Sassuolo v Milan on 11 October is in doubt.
- Alphadjo Cisse and Ruben Loftus-Cheek could benefit if he is unavailable.
The timing is unwelcome for Ruben Amorim, whose squad had largely avoided significant fitness concerns in the opening part of the season. The club will not draw conclusions until the examinations have been completed, but Saelemaekers is already expected to remain out through the coming week.
That makes him a likely absentee for the trip to Sassuolo on 11 October. Milan’s next steps will depend on the extent of the sprain and on how the player responds in the first days of treatment.
Saelemaekers had been building an important place in Amorim’s side before the setback. He started against Lecce and produced a convincing display in the attacking midfield role, operating close to Christian Pulisic and Gonçalo Ramos.
His absence would therefore be more than a routine selection adjustment. Milan had begun to see the Belgian establish himself as a regular in that position, at a point when the coach’s attacking choices were starting to settle.
Cisse and Loftus-Cheek are now the most immediate alternatives ahead of the Sassuolo match. Both could move into contention for a starting place when the squad returns from the break, while Milan await clearer news on Saelemaekers’ ankle.
