Reports: Milan fear injured Christian Pulisic out for a month - ESPN

AC Milan and United States star Christian Pulisic is headed back to Italy after international duty with a hamstring injury, and although the U.S. winger still has to be fully evaluated by his club, reports say he could be sidelined for nearly a month.

That would mean Pulisic would not only miss Sunday's match against Fiorentina but also Serie A matches against Pisa, Atalanta, Roma and Parma as the friendly matches played by the U.S. could cost Milan dearly.

Despite the reports, a source told ESPN that Pulisic's return flight to Milan had been delayed and that he was still in the United States, adding that no scans had been done yet to determine the extent of his injury.

Pulisic has been Milan's best player by far this season, with six goals and two assists in seven matches before a rare missed penalty in a goalless draw against Juventus before the international break.

Pulisic, 27, was slowed by a right ankle injury last week and only entered Friday's 1-1 draw against Ecuador in the 73rd minute. Despite that — and the matches only being friendlies — he started Tuesday's 2-1 win over Australia but was forced off after 26 minutes with an apparent hamstring injury.

After the match, U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino suggested the change in climate and altitude between the team's first game in Austin and the game against Australia in Denver as a possible contributing factor to Pulisic's injury.

«I think it's a thing that is a massive risk. I don't want to say that Christian or if it's something because, but I think it was really tough for the player,» Pochettino said. «We know to prepare the game and then to play. We got really sad about this [Pulisic] situation because I think it is difficult.

»I think the [temperature]