The horizon is clearing for Mike Maignan. Victim of a strained left thigh flexor on September 19 at the end of the Champions League match against Newcastle (0-0), the French goalkeeper now seems fully recovered.
Absent during the success against Hellas Verona on September 23 (1-0), he resumed training with the group this Monday and was able to participate in the entire session with his partners. It is now up to the Lombard medical staff, in full agreement with Stefano Pioli, the coach of the 2nd in Serie A, to determine the date of his return to competition. If he will not appear, according to our information, in the group from this Wednesday in Cagliari, for the 6th day, his presence on the field is, however, expected, as mentioned on our site the day after his injury , on September 30 against Lazio.
Given his history of injuries and the important domestic and continental events to come, the precautionary principle must, in fact, prevail regarding him. Marco Sportiello will continue his interim role during the Rossoneri’s trip to Sardinia.
Théo Hernandez operational
As a reminder, the French international, now number 1 among the Blues since the international retirement of Hugo Lloris, had missed several months of competition last season, and in particular the World Cup, due to a calf injury. The next gathering of the Blues is scheduled for mid-October. Didier Deschamps’ men must face the Netherlands on October 13 for qualifying for Euro 2024 then Scotland in a friendly on October 17. The list for these two meetings will be communicated on Thursday October 5.
The other good news from Milanello concerns another French international Théo Hernandez. Absent against Verona due to a blow received four days earlier in C1, he also worked with the group and appears eligible for the match at Cagliari where his start is within the realm of possibility. His return could allow Pioli to return to a four-man defense.
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