Mike Maignan’s return to the field is expected around mid-February, AC Milan said on Friday, announcing a “satisfactory evolution” of the French international goalkeeper’s calf injury.
Maignan, potential N.1 of the Blues after the international retirements of Hugo Lloris and Steve Mandanda, has been away from the field since September, replaced in the Milan cage by the Romanian Ciprian Tatarusanu.
“Mike Maignan was subjected to scheduled examinations which revealed a satisfactory evolution in the healing process with the conservative treatment put in place,” said his club.
“The player will continue the care and the athletic work in preparation for the return to the field,” he added. The hope of the Italian champions is to be able to count on the French goalkeeper for the knockout stages of the Champions League against Tottenham on February 14, according to an internal source at the club.
The ex-Lillois injured his left calf for the first time with the Blues in September during a League of Nations match against Austria (2-0). While his return to the field was imminent, he suffered a relapse in October, which forced him to give up the World Cup as Lloris’ understudy.
After the international retirement of Hugo Lloris, Maignan (5 selections), international since 2019, is the big favorite to become the holder in the cage of the vice-world champions. The next match of the Blues is scheduled for March 24 against the Netherlands, as part of the qualifications for Euro-2024.