Ruben Loftus-Cheek injured in Serie A clash
Ruben Loftus-Cheek was transported to hospital following a frightening collision during AC Milan’s Serie A fixture against Parma on Sunday evening, reports BritPanorama.
The England midfielder clashed with Parma goalkeeper, Edoardo Corvi, as both players contested a cross just minutes into the match. The 30-year-old was withdrawn after only 11 minutes of play.
Medical staff attended to Loftus-Cheek on the pitch, where blood was visible on his face. Following initial assessments, he was fitted with a neck brace as a precautionary measure before being carried from the field on a stretcher. The player remained conscious throughout the incident.
Broadcasters reported that the most significant damage occurred to Loftus-Cheek’s teeth. According to Sky Sport Italia, he sustained a fracture of the alveolar bone, the section of the skull that anchors teeth in place.
The injury will require surgery, and the player will face a recovery period spanning several months. This timeline effectively ends any realistic prospect of Loftus-Cheek earning selection for England’s World Cup squad traveling to North America this summer. Reports indicate that at least one tooth was broken during the impact, when Corvi attempted to punch the ball clear but instead struck Loftus-Cheek’s jaw.
Since leaving Chelsea in 2023, Loftus-Cheek has made 95 appearances for the Italian giants, contributing 13 goals and establishing himself as a regular under manager Massimiliano Allegri. Despite his move abroad, the 30-year-old received a surprise international recall earlier this season when Thomas Tuchel required cover for injured players.
That call-up ended a near seven-year exile from the national team, with his previous cap coming against the United States in a November 2018 friendly. His international absence had followed a devastating Achilles rupture sustained while playing for Chelsea in a friendly before the 2019 Europa League final.
Sunday’s defeat for AC Milan dropped the club 10 points behind city rivals Inter at the summit of Serie A.
This latest injury serves as a stark reminder of how quickly fortunes can change in football, especially for players who have already faced significant setbacks in their careers. Loftus-Cheek’s resilience will be tested once again, as he navigates the path to recovery, hoping to return to the pitch stronger than before.
