Alexis Saelemaekers is back at Stefano Pioli’s disposal after over two months out due to the minor knee surgery he underwent, and now he must remind AC Milan fans of just how useful he can be.
Calciomercato.com report that Saelemaekers trained with the team yesterday at Milanello and did the entire session with the exception of the match played at the end. The partial lesion he suffered in his medial collateral ligament is therefore now a thing of the past, and he has the game against Salernitana on January 4th – the resumption of Serie A – in his sights.
The winger’s absence weighed heavily on the depth that Pioli was able to call upon, especially given that Junior Messias has also missed some games which forced the use of Brahim Diaz and Ante Rebic on the right.
The Belgian will be available again from January, a month in which he will try to regain a starting spot but also the month in which the transfer market will be open again. Milan still want to reinforce the right flank and a new attempt to sign Hakim Ziyech is expected.
The right wing role is currently occupied by Saelemaekers and Messias, who have been competing for a starting spot for a year and a half, but find themselves united in their desire to prove to Paolo Maldini that Ziyech is not needed otherwise one or both of their futures could be at risk.
Dest can very well fill the post of Saelemaekers. We have seen that in Qatar.