From Forgotten to Crucial? Arkadiusz Milik’s Return Raises Big Questions at Juventus

Arkadiusz Milik first joined Juventus in the summer of 2022 on loan from Olympique Marseille. Although he had his highs and lows, the Bianconeri opted to keep him on a permanent basis the following summer, considering him a solid backup for Dusan Vlahovic.

Now, he is back on training, albeit on a limited basis at the moment. True, Milik hasn’t reached the finish line just yet, as the medical staff remain highly cautious in the reintegration process, especially given the player’s woeful injury record. Nevertheless, if he manages to regain his condition in the coming weeks, perhaps he could gradually return to action in January.

Arkadiusz Milik Close to Return From Injury

It has been a lengthy period on the die liens for Milik, which prevented him from wearing the Bianconeri jersey for more than 550 days. But now, perhaps, there is light at the end of the tunnel.

This could be a timely comeback, given that Dusan Vlahovic has been ruled out of action until spring after undergoing surgery last week, while Jonathan David and Lois Openda have yet to convince.

Luciano Spalletti currently uses Jonathan David as striker, but the Canadian has only scored three goals so far, one on his club debut against Parma in August, and two in the last two Champions League fixtures against Bodo/Glimt and Pafos.

In contrast, Milik is a traditional centre-forward, strong at holding up play and providing physical presence in the box. His playstyle would enable certain players – particularly Khéphren Thuram – to express their full potential.

When is Arkadiusz Milik Likely to Play?

It is difficult to put a date on Milik’s return from injury, but his partial training is a positive sign.

Juventus need to be really careful here and not get ahead of themselves. Common sense says he shouldn’t play in this weekend’s match against Roma. There’s a bit of a positive vibe around him being in the Juventus squad for the January games. They’re approaching a favorable run of festive fixtures, and could support his gradual comeback.