Rubes is Back: Loftus-Cheek Shakes Off Horror Smash

Picture this: Ruben Loftus-Cheek, the towering Englishman who's become a fan favourite at AC Milan, carted off on a stretcher with his neck in a brace. Grim stuff, right? But hold onto your pints – the big man's back in training, grinning (carefully) with the squad, and eyeing a return against Napoli.

It all kicked off back on 22 February in that feisty Serie A clash with Parma. Loftus-Cheek clashed heads – or rather, jaw – with keeper Edoardo Corvi in what looked like a proper car crash on the pitch. Teeth flying, alveolar bone in his jaw fractured. Ouch.

The Nasty Knock and Road to Recovery

Surgery followed sharpish to fix the damage. Docs reckoned he'd be sidelined for about eight weeks, and bang on cue, here he is rejoining the lads today. AC Milan's socials lit up with 'Great to have you back, Rubes! 👏' – you can almost hear the dressing room cheers.

As reported by Susy Campanale at Football Italia, this season's been a rollercoaster for the ex-Chelsea powerhouse. Three goals and an assist in 27 games across all comps. Not shabby for a midfielder who's more battering ram than silk merchant.

That Parma incident? Pure accident, but it left fans holding their breath. Stretchered off at the Giuseppe Meazza, it was one of those moments where you think, 'Blimey, that's his season done.' Yet here he is, ahead of schedule, proving he's built like a brick out-house.

Timing Perfect for Scudetto Scrap

International break's just wrapped, and what's on the horizon? A proper title-six-pointer against third-placed Napoli. Loftus-Cheek could be in the mix, adding that physical edge Milan crave in midfield battles.

He's settled nicely into Serie A life since ditching Stamford Bridge. Remember his breakout at Chelsea? Loan spells, Europa League final heroics. Now at 26, he's hitting prime, bullying defenders and chipping in with goals. Milan fans have adopted him like a local lad – 'Rubes' chants echoing round San Siro.

Not everyone's celebrating yet, mind. Matteo Gabbia and Rafael Leao are still sweating over their knocks, sticking to individual sessions. Gabbia's defensive nous and Leao's electric pace – Milan miss 'em badly. But with Loftus-Cheek slotting back, it's a timely boost ahead of the run-in.

Why This Matters for Rossoneri's Top-Four Push

Milan's campaign? Solid but not spectacular. Sitting pretty in the Scudetto hunt, but injuries have tested the depth. Loftus-Cheek's return hands boss Paulo Fonseca options – pair him with Tijjani Reijnders or Yunus Musah for that midfield grunt.

Humour me here: guy's jaw took a right hammering, lost teeth like a rugby scrum gone wrong, yet he's back prowling like nothing happened. Proper warrior. If he bags a goal or two post-comeback, it'll be the stuff of memes – 'Rubes: Unbreakable, even when he literally is.'

Fans are buzzing online. Twitter's alive with clips of his training clips, that cheeky smile peeking through. Napoli away? Expect fireworks. Loftus-Cheek thrives in big games – Chelsea days proved that.

So, raise a glass to the comeback kid. Milan's engine room just got a turbocharge. Keep an eye on the squad list – Rubes might just be the difference in this title tilt. Forza Milan, eh?

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