Shavon Shields injury keeps him out until 2023 / News - Basketnews.com

Head coach Ettore Messina announced that Shavon Shields will have a check-up at the end of the month and will be sidelined for the entire month of December. Luigi Datome is out with a virus, Stefano Tonut is expected to come back in December, while Billy Baron's return is said to happen on Sunday.

Credit: imago images/Lackovic-SCANPIX Credit imago images/Lackovic-SCANPIX

Shavon Shields suffered a foot injury a month ago and has been sidelined ever since. Even though the initial guesses indicated 6-8 weeks of absence, the waiting time for the forward to come back to court is now expected to be longer.

Shavon Shields

Team:EA7 Emporio Armani MilanPosition:SFAge:28Height:201 cmWeight:98 kgBirth place:United States of AmericaProfileNewsStatistics

After a win against Trieste in Italian Lega Basket (LBA) yesterday, EA7 Emporio Armani Milan's head coach Ettore Messina provided an update on Shields' health.

"Shields will have a check-up by the end of the month and we hope it will allow him to start the actual rehabilitation. There is no talk of seeing him again before the new year," Messina told.

Additionally, Luigi Datome has also been out due to an illness recently, leaving Milan with an open spot in the small forward position.

"Gigi had a virus that laid him down and now he's still not able to go back to doing real work," the coach said. "Tonut is expected to return in the first half of December, one month after his injury. Billy Baron on the other hand is the only one who has already done something. If all goes well, he could leave next Sunday in Treviso."

With two important players missing, the club has recently signed Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot to the roster. The 27-year-old French forward comes back after spending 6 seasons in the NBA.

"He is a player who can help us as he occupies the natural role of Shavon Shields and Gigi Datome. He should allow us to overcome this moment in which we have neither [one of the two players]. He is a player who has played a lot in the national team, he has done a few years in the NBA, so we are counting on it," Messina said.

After a loss against Zalgiris Kaunas in the EuroLeague on Friday, a tough double-header awaits the Italian team this week. First, a matchup against the reigning champions Anadolu Efes Istanbul comes on Tuesday while a battle against the current standings leaders Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul follows on Thursday.

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