Nicolò Zaniolo’s recovery from his second ACL tear is going according to plan and, after undergoing an MRI at the Villa Stuart clinic a couple of days ago, the Roma attacker flew to Innsbruck today to be checked upon by professor Fink, who performed the reconstructive surgery in September, Corriere Dello Sport and news agency Ansa report.
The Rome-based newspaper adds that the 21-year-old has taken the rehab process in stride after an initial moment of discouragement for the second major injury within a few months. In today’s visit, which was delayed because of the travelling restrictions caused by the Coronavirus pandemic, he is expected to receive the greenlight to undertake a specific program to strengthen the joint.
The following step for him will be to resume working on grass, which could happen in January, and after that it is estimated that it will take him six-to-eight weeks to be able to play, which would match the initial timetable that would see him return in the Spring of 2021, therefore in time for European Championship. As natural, the club will not rush him back.
Zaniolo tore his ACL on September 7th while playing with Italy against Netherlands. Earlier in the year he had missed seven months because of the same injury, but to the other knee. Due to the two extended absences, he has been able to appear just ten times in 2020, scoring twice.