Nesta can't shake injury
Tuesday 4 November, 2008
Milan defender Alessandro Nesta has suffered yet another setback in his recovery from a back problem.
The 32-year-old stopper is now unlikely to feature until after the winter break when the Rossoneri travel to Dubai for a mid-season training camp.
Nesta has not been available to Coach Carlo Ancelotti since July 13 when a disk slipped in his back and crushed two vertebrae.
After several weeks of therapy, Nesta returned to first team action on October 14 in a friendly played in Albania.
The following Sunday, Nesta was on the bench for Milan's game with Sampdoria, but felt pain once more.
“It will take a little more time,” said Ancelotti. Worryingly, former Milan left-back Serginho suffered from the same affliction and had to retire, albeit aged 35.
Nesta has already had an operation on his back and an investigative procedure recently showed that it is healing fine, making the real cause of his injury a mystery.
The former Lazio captain has since returned to Miami, where he has a holiday home, to complete his recovery.
Nesta's prolonged absence gives Ancelotti a headache at centre-back. Philippe Senderos has been at Milan for two months now and has been injured three times.
Paolo Maldini has had a scan after complaining of muscular pain and Kakha Kaladze is only just returning to full fitness.
That leaves Daniele Bonera as Milan's only healthy central defender.
Channel4