AC Milan's hopes of closing the gap on Serie A leaders Inter suffered a double blow on Sunday as they lost 2-1 to Parma and saw midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek sustain a fractured jaw. The England international was stretchered off in the seventh minute after a collision with Parma goalkeeper Edoardo Corvi. Milan later confirmed Loftus-Cheek had fractured his upper teeth and maxillary alveolar bone, requiring surgery and a recovery period of several months.
The injury puts Loftus-Cheek's participation in this summer's World Cup in doubt. The 29-year-old had made his first England appearance in seven years last October, raising hopes of a place in the squad for the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Milan's defeat leaves them 10 points behind Inter, who beat Lecce 2-0 on Saturday. The Rossoneri have struggled against lower-ranked sides this season, having already dropped points to Cremonese, Pisa, Genoa, Fiorentina and Parma before Sunday's match. Manager Carlos Cuesta's Parma side, led by the 29-year-old former Arsenal assistant, exploited Milan's defensive frailties to secure a valuable win.
Milan had been expected to capitalise on a favourable fixture schedule, with rivals Inter, Juventus and Atalanta returning from demanding European trips. However, a disjointed performance after Loftus-Cheek's early exit saw them fall behind. The defeat underscores Milan's inconsistency, having previously beaten Inter, Napoli and Roma this season.
