Midfield blow for AC Milan

Posted on Tuesday, September 16th, 2008 at 7:37 pm and is filed under News.

AC Milan’s midfield woes continue ahead of their crucial first round match against Zurich in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday.

With Gennaro Gattuso already set to watch the opening round of the 2008 UEFA Europa League from the sidelines, AC Milan have learnt that midfielder Andrea Pirlo will be unable to play on Thursday due to an injury sustained in training.

“Milan announces that Andrea Pirlo sustained an injury to his right leg this morning and he will be examined further on Friday,” AC Milan announced on their official website.

While the severity of Pirlo’s injury is not yet known, early reports indicate that he may be out of action for at least the next two months, leaving AC Milan with a vulnerable midfield.

Milan coach Carlo Ancelloti will have no alternative but to draft Emerson or Cardacio into the squad ahead of Zurich’s arrival in Milan on Thursday.

In spite of the setbacks suffered by AC Milan as they prepare for the UEFA Europa League, the club remains a firm favourite with bookmakers to eliminate Zurich from the UEFA Europa League on Thursday.

William Hill have priced AC Milan as 1/6 favourites to progress to the second round of the UEFA Europa League, while Zurich are rank outsiders at odds of 11/1.