CM: How long Saelemaekers is expected to be out and Amorim’s replacement dilemma

AC Milan had the joint-most call-ups of any Serie A club for the international break, so it was unlikely everything would go perfectly.

While doubts surround the condition of Strahinja Pavlovic after he came off in Serbia’s last game, Calciomercato.com confirm that Ruben Amorim has lost Alexis Saelemaekers to injury too. The difference, however, is that Saelemaekers was not called up.

The Rossoneri winger missed international duty because new coach Mark van Bommel went for other players in his place for the first Nations League matches, but he injured himself during a training session at Milanello a few days ago.

The Belgian suffered a sprained right ankle, but bone damage or capsular ligament damage have been ruled out. The suspension comes precisely during this period during which the coach wanted to insist on testing him in his new role as left-sided attacking midfielder, where he performed well vs. Lecce.

A dilemma for Amorim

Milan hope to have Saelemaekers back at Amorim’s disposal as soon as possible. His recovery time is expected to be at least 10 days, so it remains to be seen whether he will be available for the match against Sassuolo, scheduled for October 11th when the league season resumes.

He’s more likely to return on the 15th against RB Salzburg in the Europa League or on the 18th at San Siro for the home match against Atalanta. The priority is not to rush his return to avoid worsening things.

So, the coach will explore alternative solutions for now. The two main candidates to replace Saelemaekers are Alphadjo Cissé and Diego Moreira, both of whom have made excellent starts to the season with goals and positive performances.

The left attacking midfielder position would be ideal for Cissé, especially considering that in the summer Amorim consistently said he envisioned Moreira as a winger, but the former Strasbourg player’s enthusiasm and recent form could make the difference.