Ruben Loftus-Cheek taken to hospital after serious collision in Milan defeat

AC Milan midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek has been taken to hospital for tests after being stretchered off wearing a neck brace during a Serie A defeat by Parma.

The former Chelsea player was involved in a heavy collision with opposing goalkeeper Edoardo Corvi just minutes after entering the field of play.

Loftus-Cheek remained conscious following the incident, though blood was visible on his face and reports in Italy suggest he sustained damage to his teeth.

He was subsequently transported to a local hospital for further examination following the match at the Ennio Tardini Stadium.

Double blow for Milan

It proved to be a costly afternoon for the Rossoneri, who also lost defender Matteo Gabbia to a physical issue during the warm-up.

The defeat leaves Paulo Fonseca’s side second in the Serie A table, trailing city rivals Inter Milan in the race for the Scudetto.

No official timeline has yet been given for the Englishman’s recovery, though he is now expected to face a spell on the sidelines.

International resurgence halted

The injury serves as a frustrating setback for the midfielder, who had recently forced his way back into the international picture.

Having moved to Italy in 2023, his consistent form at the San Siro earned a surprise recall to the England squad under Thomas Tuchel earlier this season.

That call-up ended a nearly seven-year absence from the national team setup, dating back to a friendly against the United States in November 2018.

The Lewisham-born player has previously spoken about the mental resilience required to overcome long-term setbacks, specifically regarding an Achilles rupture suffered in 2019.

“When I ruptured my Achilles, I was on such a high [before it happened], so after that I had a hard time mentally,” Loftus-Cheek said in September.

“But I was still young, I still had time to come back, so I wasn’t too low.”