There’s some great news coming out of Milan, news that’s exactly what U.S. soccer fans have been hoping to hear. Remember last month when AC Milan confirmed that Christian Pulisic had suffered a right hamstring injury during a U.S. friendly against Australia? The club said at the time, “An MRI scan performed today revealed a low-grade tear in his right hamstring.” Well, it was a tough blow, especially since U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino left Pulisic out of his squad for the upcoming friendlies.

But wait before you get more demoralized, because it looks like the worst is behind him. Pulisic is finally back on the field, and from the short time he’s played so far, fans have every reason to feel optimistic about what’s ahead. “Christian Pulisic played the final 20 minutes today for AC Milan in a 2-2 draw with Parma. His first minutes since early October,” The Athletic’s Larry Henry Jr. posted on X.

So, for the unversed, Pulisic nearly made a dream return for AC Milan in their 2-2 draw against relegation-threatened Parma on Saturday, after only returning to training this week. Just when Milan had blown an early 2-0 lead, Max Allegri subbed Pulisic on in the 70th minute for his first appearance in almost a month. And then he did what he always does best.

Just six minutes into the game, Pulisic almost stole the show. He sprinted onto Rafael Leao’s clever backheel and went one-on-one with the keeper, only to send his shot just wide of the right post. While it was a golden chance to restore Milan’s lead, luck wasn’t on his side. Still, he kept pushing and even came close to setting up a winner. After a quick turn and sharp pass, he put Alexis Saelemaekers clean through on goal, but the Belgian couldn’t finish, firing over the bar.

A win would have brought Milan to the top of the table, overtaking Napoli, though at the moment only a point separates the two. With Napoli at 23 points and Milan with 22, closely followed by Inter Milan and Roma at 21 each, it’s shaping up to be a nailbiter of a season with the promise of a thrilling title race.

So, all in all, it was a mixed outing for Pulisic. But as Allegri put it before the game, “He’s only had two training sessions, but usually he’s not a player who needs many to be ready. What matters is having him on the bench.”

The energy and intent he showed after coming back from injury were exactly what Milan and U.S. fans wanted to see.

USMNT’s World Cup planning is back on track with Pulisic’s update

Pulisic was notably left out of coach Pochettino’s squad for the upcoming friendlies against Paraguay and Uruguay on November 15 and 18. As per Pochettino, the decision wasn’t about form or fitness concerns but about protecting his player. He said that he wanted Pulisic to stay in Italy with AC Milan “to give him the chance to fully recover.”

Well, after battling a hamstring injury and only recently returning to action, the idea is to let him regain his rhythm at the club level before the more intense international calendar kicks in.

Of course, it’s still a big blow for U.S. fans. These two friendlies will be the national team’s final friendlies for the year, with two more rounds of friendlies scheduled in March and June before the all-important World Cup. But missing a key leader like Pulisic is far from ideal when the team needs all the chances it can get to gel. But in the bigger picture, keeping him fit and sharp is the best decision Pochettino can make.

Because Christian Pulisic’s presence can make all the difference, and aggravating the injury isn’t worth the risk. Remember his game-winning goal against Iran in the 2022 World Cup?  That sealed their place in the knockout stage and defined his status as the heartbeat of the team.

So, now that he’s back on the field and building momentum with Milan, the signs are encouraging… Fans will be hoping this steady return to form sets him up perfectly to lead the charge again when the World Cup comes to home soil. And maybe, just maybe, to create a few more unforgettable moments in red, white, and blue.