Milan confirm goalkeeper Mike Maignan will be out for at least ’10 weeks’ after a statement confirmed a wrist ligament was repaired and a screw added to stabilise a scaphoid fracture.
Maignan has been dealing with pain in his left wrist for a month now, first after saving Mohamed Salah’s Liverpool penalty at Anfield, then with another knock from Luis Suarez during their 2-1 Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid.
Following a specialist consultation, it was decided to go for keyhole surgery this afternoon.
It was reported he would be out for at least two months, but the suggestion now is this will be closer to three months, the statement noting the wrist will be immobilised for six weeks and his return to the field is expected in 10 weeks’ time.
A scaphoid fracture was identified, one of the small bones of the wrist, and a metal screw was inserted to stabilise it.
A lesion was also found in a ligament in the left wrist, which was repaired during the surgery.
Questions will no doubt be asked around how he managed to continue playing for almost a full month with a fracture in his wrist.
Meanwhile, 38-year-old Antonio Mirante has been signed as a free agent to the end of the season.
Because Maignan is out for over 30 days, the UEFA rules do allow a change of the Champions League squad, so the goalkeeper will be replaced in the list by Mirante.
The only other available shot-stopper is Ciprian Tatarusanu, as Alessandro Plizzari is out until January following knee surgery.
Luis Suarez 😐
[📹 @CarroRafaLeao] pic.twitter.com/0EHOTD2lTM
— AC Milan – FR 👹 (@AC_MilanFR) October 13, 2021
Official Statement: Mike Maignan ➡ https://t.co/g7odpxiwsp
Comunicato Ufficiale: Mike Maignan ➡ https://t.co/vaxJ5buhhm#SempreMilan pic.twitter.com/LBd5sigVZB
— AC Milan (@acmilan) October 13, 2021
I guess we’ll just have to score more goals to make up for those his replacement will concede…
That’s right Michael! And the Def will have to dig even deeper to hold that fort tight and solid for whichever GK is in the back.
Hope you heal up soon MM! We’ll miss you.