Ismael Bennacer returns to AC Milan training after suffering knee injury in May

Ismael Bennacer was expected to return in December

Ismael Bennacer has returned to the AC Milan training facility for the first time since suffering a severe knee injury that necessitated surgery last season.

The midfielder from Algeria is now working alone in the Carnago Sports Centre following undergoing several months in rehabilitation, according to our colleagues at SempreMilan.it.

During the Champions League match against Inter last year, Bennacer suffered a cartilage injury to his left knee; since then, he has been unable to play.

The countdown to his return has officially started, but Bennacer still has another two months of individual training ahead of him, so it might not even be December before we see him on the Milanello grass.

Healing the injuries is one thing, but getting match-ready with his teammates is quite another. The African Cup of Nations, which takes place in January, is another significant element. He might want to go back there.

In the Champions League against their city rivals Inter last season, Pioli's team fell behind 2-0 within just 11 minutes, and things only got worse when Bennacer was forced to leave the game with what appeared to be a knock.

His rehabilitation time was predicted to take six months, so he might have returned in December, but he did so earlier than we anticipated. He will also be keeping an eye on the African Cup of Nations, which is scheduled for early 2024.

Bennacer transferred from Empoli to AC Milan for a rumoured €16 million transfer price plus bonuses. On July 23, after passing his physical, he signed a five-year contract with an alleged salary of €1.5 million each season. On August 25, he made his club debut, substituting in the second half of a 1-0 Serie A away loss to Udinese;