Roma‘s Ferguson picks up minor ankle knock but is expected to be available for AC Milan

Evan Ferguson suffered a minor left-ankle injury during Roma’s 2-0 win over Stuttgart in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday night, but the issue is not expected to rule him out of Sunday’s Serie A trip to face second-placed AC Milan.

Minor knock, major week

Ferguson took the knock in the phase of play that led to Niccolò Pisilli’s late second goal, which sealed the victory and tightened Roma’s grip on a top seeding in the league phase. With Roma having used all five substitutions, the forward completed the final minutes while moving gingerly and went straight to the tunnel at the whistle. Despite a history of ankle issues, including previous spells on the sidelines since his move to Italy, club confidence is that he will train normally before the Milan fixture.

Roma’s medical staff are understood to view the problem as an impact injury rather than structural damage, easing fears of a repeat of the more serious ankle setback that interrupted his first months in Serie A. That assessment allows Gasperini to plan for Milan with Ferguson in the matchday squad, even if his exact role is still to be determined.

Selection call at San Siro

Whether Ferguson starts remains uncertain. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is weighing his forward options and indicated that recent attacking additions are in contention for minutes. Rotation would be a pragmatic response to the short turnaround and the striker’s minor setback, as Roma continue to balance domestic ambitions with a deep European run.

The timing of the injury complicates selection for a game that could directly influence Champions League qualification and, by extension, Roma’s compliance with UEFA’s evolving financial sustainability and club licensing rules. A fit Ferguson gives Gasperini the option of maintaining a more aggressive front line at San Siro, rather than reverting to a conservative setup to protect one of his key attacking assets.

Match snapshot

• Result: Roma 2-0 Stuttgart (Europa League league phase)
• Ferguson: involved in the build-up to the stoppage-time second goal; finished the game despite the knock and left the pitch unaided
• Substitutions: Roma had already used all five replacements under current competition rules

What it means for Roma’s calendar

The win strengthens Roma’s position in the UEFA Europa League league phase, where results shape seeding and the pathway into the knockout rounds. The immediate task, however, is domestic: a demanding trip to San Siro against a Milan side setting the pace near the top of Serie A. With limited recovery time between European and league fixtures, managing Ferguson’s minutes-while keeping him available-has clear competitive value.

Beyond the sporting stakes, Roma’s ability to keep key players healthy across congested weeks feeds directly into medium-term planning: European qualification determines broadcast revenues, prize money and the scope for future squad building under Italy’s professional football governance framework, overseen by the Italian Football Federation.

Coach’s view on form

Gasperini credited the Irish striker’s recent uptick and suggested that the current version of Ferguson is far closer to the profile Roma thought they were signing. “In the last few games, his attitude has changed, and his condition has probably changed too,” he said. “Compared to a few months ago, he’s a player who stays in the game, he seems to me to be a player who is present and not intangible like at the start of the season.”

Those comments underline why Roma are inclined to protect him from unnecessary risk: after an uneven start marked by fitness concerns, Ferguson has begun to knit his pressing, hold-up play and penalty-box instincts into a more consistent contribution.

Transfer interest around Irish forwards

Separately, interest from the Premier League has been linked to both Ferguson and AZ Alkmaar forward Troy Parrott. Parrott is being monitored by clubs in England, Germany and Spain, while he is not expected to rush any decision on his next move.

For Roma, any renewed attention from England in Ferguson will be read against the backdrop of his improved form and their need to retain assets who can deliver both on the pitch and on the balance sheet. For now, though, the focus is short term: ensuring that a minor knock does not derail a pivotal week in their season.