AC Milan face Salernitana on Saturday, with Stefano Pioli hoping for better news on the injury front after Simon Kjaer’s setback.
The Rossoneri got back to winning ways in midweek against Genoa, which in turn was an important boost to give all concerned a lift after consecutive defeats in Serie A.
READ MORE: Milan player ratings vs Genoa: Messias decisive, Maignan in top form
Kjaer injury blow
However, it came at a cost with Kjaer forced off early, with MilanNews’ Antonio Vitiello reporting that the Danish stalwart is set to undergo surgery after sustaining ligament damage in his knee.
Given the nature of the injury, it is likely to result in a significant spell on the sidelines for Kjaer, and so Milan and Pioli will hope to lean on Fikayo Tomori and Alessio Romagnoli to now form a strong partnership in the heart of the backline.
While we await official news from the club on the surgery and a possible recovery time, Pioli addressed the setback in his press conference on Friday.
“There’s deep dismay. We know the value of the player and, above all, his qualities on a human level,” he said, as noted by the club’s official site. “Simon is a vital part of our changing room in terms of intelligence and charisma and we’re all very close to him. We’re worried about the injury but know that he’ll overcome this problem because he’s strong. If it’s confirmed that he’ll be out for a long time, the Club might have to act in the January transfer window to improve the team.”
It’s hoped that the news on Kjaer is positive and that the layoff isn’t as long as currently feared, but the important aspect will be to ensure he makes a full recovery and is back to his best rather than trying to rush him back and risk re-injuring the knee.
Castillejo, Bennacer lead way in Milan players coming back
Elsewhere, Pioli added that both Samu Castillejo and Ismael Bennacer could return this weekend after recovering from their respective knocks, while Olivier Giroud, Davide Calabria and Ante Rebic are all improving but are perhaps a little further behind in their efforts to return to the line-up.
Time will tell how many changes Milan make on Saturday, but with the risk of injury and the showdown with Liverpool in the Champions League to come on Tuesday night, Pioli will certainly give real consideration to the Milan XI he puts out this weekend as we look to enjoy a winning week across multiple fronts.
That could mean a rest for Zlatan Ibrahimovic, with Pietro Pellegri in line to be given a big opportunity to showcase his quality and prove he can successfully step in when necessary.
