The reason for Bennacer’s return from international duty

AC Milan midfielder Ismael Bennacer has returned from international duty with Algeria as a precautionary measure, rather than because he has suffered a serious injury. 

As has been reported by Corriere dello Sport (via Milan News), the Algerian midfielder has come back to try and avoid another long injury layoff by overworking himself.

It is not the case that Bennacer has a new injury, it is that he wants to avoid aggravating the existing problem and ruling himself out of even more action.

Algeria said that he was suffering ‘a slight pain’ and was given permission to leave the camp and return to his club to continue training.

Once he is back at Milanello and a training session takes place, it will be clearer as to what condition he is in.

Bennacer has missed almost the entire season after undergoing knee surgery following an injury in the Champions League semi-final last season. After so long out, he and Milan have to be very careful with his workload as such a long spell out can lead to other muscular issues.

He was unable to make an impact at the Africa Cup of Nations due to injury and has appeared fleetingly for Milan since Christmas.