Milan relief as Saelemaekers tests reveal sprained ankle

Milan have avoided a serious injury to Alexis Saelemaekers, with scans ruling out anything beyond a sprain.

According to Alfredo Pedullà, the Belgian sustained a twisting injury to his right ankle in Tuesday’s training session at Milanello. He was sent from the Carnago training centre for instrumental tests to establish the extent of the problem.

It follows more good news earlier on Tuesday, that confirmed that Strahinja Pavlovic’s injury is not too serious either.

Milan breathe a sigh of relief as no bone or ligament damage for Saelemaekers

Those examinations came back clear and there is no bone damage and no capsular or ligament involvement, and his recovery will be assessed on a day-by-day basis.

That leaves his availability for the return to Serie A uncertain but far from ruled out, and the international break gives him time that would not otherwise have been there. Milan’s next fixture is away to Sassuolo.

The timing would have been awkward for Ruben Amorim. Saelemaekers has been a squad option rather than a fixture in the 3-4-2-1 but Milan’s wide areas are already stretched, with Samuel Chukwueze, Davide Bartesaghi and Diego Moreira competing for the flanks and Christian Pulisic and Alphadjo Cisse operating inside them.