De Ketelaere makes early return for Atalanta vs. Milan | OneFootball

Charles De Ketelaere is surprisingly included in the Atalanta squad to face his former Milan teammates, recovering quicker than expected from injury.

It kicks off at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo on Sunday at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT).

Coach Gian Piero Gasperini announced the 21-man squad for this game and there were some surprises.

Sead Kolasinac had surgery this week on a torn anterior cruciate ligament and will be out for five to six months, joining Stefan Posch, Giorgio Scalvini, Gianluca Scamacca and Marco Palestra on the treatment table.

De Ketelaere was not expected back for another 2 weeks

BERGAMO, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 21: Charles De Ketelaere of Atalanta BC looks on during the UEFA Europa League 2023/24 group stage match between Atalanta BC and Rakow Czestochowa at Gewiss Stadium on September 21, 2023 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images)

De Ketelaere has been struggling for a while with an adductor strain, but the Belgian is included in the group to face his old club.

He had not been expected back until early May, having sustained the injury on international duty.

De Ketelaere has contributed 11 goals and 11 assists in 44 competitive games for Atalanta so far this season.

He joined on loan for €3m in 2023, making the move permanent a year later for a further €23.2m plus bonuses.

Atalanta squad for Milan: Bellanova, Brescianini, Carnesecchi, Cuadrado, De Ketelaere, De Roon, Djimsiti, Ederson, Hien, Kossounou, Lookman, Maldini, Pasalic, Retegui, Rossi, Ruggeri, Rui Patricio, Samardzic, Sulemana, Toloi, Zappacosta