Alexis Saelemaekers Back In AC Milan Training With Injury Return Date Revealed

Alexis Saelemaekers has returned to AC Milan training and could feature against Roma.

AC Milan Hope Alexis Saelemaekers Can Play Vs Roma

Saelemaekers came off injured during the 1-0 victory against Lecce last weekend and underwent tests. Scans revealed he had suffered a muscle strain in his left adductor, with no definitive timeframe placed on his recovery.

However, the winger was able to take part in drills at Milanello on Friday, a significant boost to Massimiliano Allegri’s preparations. He is now nearing a surprise comeback in time for Sunday’s trip to Rome.

Allegri will wait until after Saturday’s session – the last before the showdown at the Stadio Olimpico – before making a final decision on whether Saelemaekers will be included in his matchday squad.

Should that match come too soon, he would certainly be in line to return at Bologna on February 3.

Supporters will hope, though, that he is fit enough to at least make the bench against Roma, a potentially decisive game in the Champions League and Scudetto races this season.

AC Milan Team News Revealed

Regardless, Saelemaekers’ imminent return comes sooner than initially expected. The 26-year-old limped off with 10 minutes remaining against Lecce, shortly after setting up Niclas Fullkrug for the winning goal.

He was soon spotted with a large ice pack on the affected muscle.

Delivering an update post-match, he told reporters: “I felt something in my adductor, so I decided to stop. It was almost over. I didn’t want to put my team-mates in trouble.”

Promising right-back Zachary Athekame is in line to replace Saelemaekers in his first top-flight start. The Swiss U21 international has made 18 appearances this season and scored in the 2-2 draw with Pisa in October.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Fikayo Tomori, Matteo Gabbia and the returning Strahinja Pavlovic will start as the three-man defence, with Koni De Winter set to drop to the bench.

Athekame will line up on the right, while Youssouf Fofana, Luka Modric and Adrien Rabiot will again get the nod in central midfield. Christian Pulisic and Rafael Leao will likely be the front two.

Allegri will have plenty of options to call upon later in the game, with the likes of Christopher Nkunku, Fullkrug, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Ardon Jashari and Samuele Ricci to be among the substitutes.

Meanwhile, Saelemaekers signed a new contract at Milan last month, which will run until June 2031.