How Loftus-Cheek emergency changes Milan plans against Napoli | OneFootball

Ruben Loftus-Cheek was rushed to hospital for emergency surgery and had been expected to start against Napoli, so this radically changes Milan’s plans.

It kicks off at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from today’s Serie A games on the Liveblog.

The preparations for this huge match were shaken by news that Loftus-Cheek suffered severe abdominal pains in the team hotel in Naples.

He was taken to hospital, where doctors confirmed acute appendicitis, recommending emergency surgery to remove the appendix.

MILAN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 23: Ruben Loftus-Cheek of AC Milan looks on during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Juventus at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on November 23, 2024 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Loftus-Cheek had widely been expected to start in the Rossoneri midfield this evening, so Sergio Conceicao is forced to change his line-up.

According to Sky Sport Italia, Youssouf Fofana will step into the midfield instead, as Yunus Musah is suspended.

It remains to be seen if this will also shift the approach in attack, where Rafael Leao was tested with the reserves on Saturday.

Christian Pulisic, Joao Felix and Tammy Abraham are tipped to start in the trident, as Santiago Gimenez could be rested following international duty with Mexico.

Probable Milan line-up against Napoli

Maignan; Walker, Gabbia, Thiaw, Theo Hernandez; Fofana, Bondo, Reijnders; Pulisic, Abraham, Joao Felix