Musah impressing at Milan: what has Pioli said about USMNT midfielder?

As Christian Pulisic enjoys a positive start to life at AC Milan - the USMNT captain has four goals and an assist in 11 games - the performances of another American summer recruit are also catching the eye in Italy.

Unlike Pulisic, Yunus Musah appeared set to be given no more than a backseat role at Milan for now. However, the 20-year-old midfielder’s good displays for the seven-time European champions have seen him earn a place in Stefano Pioli’s line-up.

A starter in Milan’s last two games, Musah picked up his first assist for the Rossoneri on Saturday, setting up international team-mate Pulisic to score an 87th-minute winner in a 1-0 league victory at Genoa.

AC Milan boss lauds versatile Musah

Speaking late last month, Pioli described Musah as a “complete player” as he praised the versatility offered by the youngster, who joined from Valencia in August for an initial $20 million.

Musah “can play in all three [midfield] positions” in Milan’s typical 4-3-3 formation, Pioli said, adding: “He has different traits to [Rade] Krunic and [Yacine] Adli, and he is able to penetrate when he plays further forward.

“He has qualities that will be really useful to us. He is a complete player and, wherever I play him, he will be important to the team.”

A fixture for Berhalter’s USMNT

While Musah is already a regular in the USMNT 11 - he started all four games at the World Cup in Qatar - he is now being tipped to establish himself as a player whose importance to the Stars and Stripes is on par with the likes of Pulisic and Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie.

Musah has won 29 caps for the USMNT, and is set to add to that haul during this month’s international week, when Gregg Berhalter’s side play friendlies against Germany and Ghana.

The USMNT take on Germany in East Hartford on Saturday 14 October, before facing Ghana in Nashville on Tuesday 17 October.