After spending 44 days on the sidelines, the American attacker is back among his teammates, although there is still some uncertainty over whether he will be involved this weekend.
Christian Pulisic has taken a major step toward returning to competitive action for Milan, rejoining full group training just days before the club opens its Serie A campaign against Torino. After spending 44 days on the sidelines, the American attacker is back among his teammates, although there is still some uncertainty over whether he will be involved this weekend.
The timing is encouraging for the Rossoneri, particularly after a difficult pre-season in which several important players have been unavailable. Pulisic’s return gives the club another attacking option, but one important question remains before the trip to Turin.
According to MilanNews, Pulisic has returned to full team training at Milanello, with his comeback coming only two days before the Serie A opener. The American has recovered from the injury he sustained during last month’s Club World Cup, when he suffered a microfracture and bone oedema in the tibia and fibula of his right leg.
The American winger had originally been expected to miss around four to six weeks, making his return to group work a significant milestone. After 44 days away from the squad, the 27-year-old is now back training alongside his teammates, putting him firmly on course to return to match action.
Christian Pulisic of AC Milan warms up before the Serie A match.
The images from training also offered further encouragement, with Pulisic pictured smiling alongside teammates during a rainy session. His presence suggests that his recovery has progressed well enough for him to resume normal work with the group rather than continuing on an individual rehabilitation program.
Milan faces huge decision over Torino
Despite the positive development, Pulisic’s availability for the season opener is still uncertain. The factor now sitting between his return to training and a place in the squad is whether Ruben Amorim believes he is ready to be involved in a competitive match so soon after his injury.
MilanNews adds that the decision will be made before the match, meaning Pulisic could still have a chance of traveling with the team. However, given the nature of his injury and the length of his absence, the team will have to carefully weigh the benefits of an early return against the risk of pushing him too quickly.
Even a limited appearance could be useful if the coaching staff decides that he is ready. A 20-to-30-minute cameo from the bench could give Pulisic valuable minutes while allowing Milan to avoid placing too much physical demand on him immediately.
Christian Pulisic of AC Milan.
Return that could come at the perfect time
Even if Pulisic does not make the squad against the Turin side, his return to full training means the wait for his comeback is almost over. He should be in a much stronger position to feature in Milan’s following match at San Siro, provided he continues to respond well to the increased workload.
There had previously been reports that Pulisic could return around August 28, but his return to group training has accelerated hopes that he can contribute earlier. Milan will have no reason to rush him, especially with a long Serie A campaign ahead.