Ismaël Bennacer poised for early return to AC Milan action

Algerian international midfielder Ismaël Bennacer is set to return to AC Milan’s squad sooner than anticipated, with reports suggesting he could be back in action as early as December, following a lengthy absence due to a calf injury.

Bennacer, who has been sidelined since September after suffering a right calf injury while playing for the Algerian national team, had originally been expected to return to full training with Milan by mid-December.

However, AC Milan’s Zlatan Ibrahimović confirmed that the 25-year-old will make his comeback ahead of schedule.

Speaking after Milan’s 3-2 victory over Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League, Ibrahimović revealed: “Bennacer will be back in training in a week.

He will be an extra player in midfield to give us a helping hand.”

The news of Bennacer’s imminent return is a welcome boost for Milan, who have been managing without one of their key midfielders for several months.

While Bennacer has been an undisputed starter for the club, his return could see him initially take a spot on the bench as coach Paulo Fonseca has had to rely on Youssouf Fofana in his absence.

Fofana’s performances in midfield have been solid, making it a competitive area for Bennacer to re-enter.

Despite the competition, Bennacer’s return offers coach Fonseca a fresh tactical option in the midfield, providing a strategic alternative for key fixtures ahead.

In a recent press conference, Fonseca discussed Bennacer’s importance to the squad, emphasizing that his dynamic presence could add a different dimension to Milan’s game.

While Bennacer’s return to the starting XI may not be immediate, his early availability will certainly give Milan a boost in the coming weeks.

The club will be eager to integrate him back into the team as they continue their domestic and European campaigns.