Hutchinson urged to step up for Milan after Saelemaekers surgery
Quick summary
AC Milan winger Alexis Saelemaekers has undergone surgery, opening the door for young player Hutchinson to earn more minutes in the squad.
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Attributed to original sourceAlexis Saelemaekers will be out of action for several months after having surgery on an ankle injury on Tuesday, and reports in Italy have urged summer signing Omari Hutchinson to step up in his absence.
Finally a chance for Hutchinson? Milan’s new signings urged to step up after Saelemaekers surgery Saelemaekers had surgery on his ankle in Amsterdam on Tuesday, and though Milan have not specified an exact lay-off time, varying reports claim he could be sidelined for anywhere from three to five months.
ITALY – SEPTEMBER 16: Alexis Saelemaekers of AC Milan looks on during the UEFA Europa League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between AC Milan and SL Benfica at Stadio San Siro on September 16, 2026 in Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) Saelemaekers had not quite nailed down a guaranteed starting position in the Rossoneri line-up under new head coach Ruben Amorim before his operation, starting twice and appearing twice off the bench in Serie A before the international break. But, given that the Portuguese tactician likes to tinker with his line-ups, and with Milan now a man down, Tuttomercatoweb suggests that Milan will now have to rely slightly more on a number of their summer signings.
Diego Moreira, who has provided three goals in his first four Serie A appearances, is expected to be a more regular fixture in the Milan starting XI in Saelemaekers’s absence. Like his compatriot, Moreira brings a level of versatility with his ability to fill in at either side of wing-back or as a more attacking winger.
Saelemaekers had regularly featured as a wing-back under Massimiliano Allegri last season, but has started in one of the attacking roles behind the centre-forward in a 3-4-2-1 in both of his Serie A starts so far this season.
This has led to Hutchinson being urged to prove his worth in the coming weeks. The Englishman has only played for 18 minutes in Serie A since joining Milan on loan with a potential obligation to buy from Nottingham Forest in the summer transfer window. The buy option in his contract stands at €40m.
REGGIO NELL’EMILIA, ITALY – OCTOBER 11: Omari Hutchinson of AC Milan competes for the ball with Darryl Bakola of US Sassuolo during the Serie A match between US Sassuolo and AC Milan at Mapei Stadium – Citta’ del Tricolore on October 11, 2026 in Reggio nell’Emilia, Italy. (Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Getty Images) His only start for the Rossoneri has come in the Europa League, and that evening ended in a half-time substitution in an eventual 2-0 defeat at home against Benfica.
Even with Saelemaekers out for three to five months, Hutchinson still faces a fair amount of competition for opportunities in the Milan attack, with Christian Pulisic, Samuel Chukwueze and Alphadjo Cisse all having earned more minutes than him so far in 2026-27.
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What happened
Alexis Saelemaekers has gone under the knife in a setback for AC Milan, with the Belgian winger now facing a spell on the sidelines as he recovers. The surgery leaves Milan short of options in wide areas, and youngster Hutchinson has been urged to step up and seize the opportunity. The situation could accelerate the development of the young player, while Milan may also need to consider alternative options in the transfer market or rely on tactical adjustments from the coaching staff.
Chance analysis
Saelemaekers' surgery is a blow to Milan's depth on the wing, particularly at a time when squad rotation is critical across multiple competitions. For a young player like Hutchinson, injuries to senior figures can be the catalyst that turns promising talent into a first-team contributor. The coming weeks will reveal whether Milan trust their youth product to fill the gap or look elsewhere for a temporary solution.
Milan lose a key wide option in Saelemaekers for the short term, creating an opportunity for Hutchinson to establish himself in the first team.