AC Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso will be out of
action for at least a month following his injury on
Sunday.
The Italy international was operated on after falling into a
hole between the two dugouts in a training game against fourth
division Itala San Marco's youth team, injuring his head and left
wrist.
Gattuso broke and dislocated several bones in his left hand and
immediately underwent a half-hour operation.
Gattuso broke his metacarpus and dislocated all his fingers in
his hand, Italy team doctor and surgeon Enrico Castellacci told Sky
Italia after operating on the player.
'We tried to fix the dislocated bones without an incision and we
succeeded. He's now awake and more calm. He's calm and happy with
how things went,' he revealed.
'Recuperation time? That will also be evaluated by the Milan
doctors, but I think that he will be out for at least a month if we
are lucky.'
Italy coach Marcello Lippi has called up Palermo youngster
Antonio Nocerino as a replacement for Gattuso.
The loss of the combative midfielder is a big blow for Milan as
they look to get their season off on the right foot after last
year's fifth-placed finish.
But Gattuso is not too downhearted following his operation and
is looking forward to helping the Azzurri once more if he has
recovered when their World Cup qualifying campaign resumes against
Bulgaria next month.
'The operation went well,' said Gattuso. 'There are worse things
in life.
'I am very close to these colours. I will make war against
anyone who tries to stop me from playing in the national team.'