Chukwueze faces two-month layoff with hip injury, reports say
- Chukwueze picked up the injury in preparations for AC Milan's Europa League match against Fulham's London rivals Fulham.
- He has seen a specialist and started treatment, with a reassessment due in 10 to 15 days.
- He is not expected back until the end of the year, a blow for Milan and the Super Eagles.
Nigeria winger Samuel Chukwueze is expected to spend at least two months on the sidelines after picking up a hip injury, according to reports in Italy.
The AC Milan player was hurt in the build-up to the club's UEFA Europa League match against Bournemouth on Thursday. He has already seen a specialist and begun treatment, according to Corriere della Sera, as reported by MilanNews.
The 27-year-old will be checked again in 10 to 15 days, but the reports say he is not expected to play again until the end of the year.
Why it matters
Chukwueze has been a regular for Milan this season since returning from a loan spell at Fulham in the Premier League. He has two assists in eight appearances across all competitions.
The injury is a setback for Milan, who are already without Matteo Gabbia and Alexis Saelemaekers for long spells. Complete Sports reports that the club is considering recalling Zachary Athekame from his loan at Lyon to cover for Chukwueze.
For Nigerian fans, the timing is a worry. The former Villarreal winger is one of the Super Eagles' most experienced wide options, and a two-month absence limits his chances to play and stay sharp before Nigeria's next set of matches.
There is some relief in the reported timeline: a return by the end of the year would still leave him time to rebuild fitness before the busy part of the season.
What happens next
Chukwueze will continue treatment and be assessed again in about two weeks, when Milan should have a clearer picture of how quickly he can return to training.
