Milan star Rafael Leao will likely start against Newcastle on Wednesday but according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, he’s not fit to play 90 minutes, so Luka Jovic could join Olivier Giroud in attack during the game.
The Rossoneri are desperate for a win at St. James’ Park but getting all three points in England may not be enough to qualify for the Champions League Round of 16 as Milan also need Borussia Dortmund to beat PSG at home.
Stefano Pioli’s men lost their most recent Serie A meeting with Atalanta on Saturday and sit third in the Serie A table, nine points below city rivals Inter, the current league leaders.
La Gazzetta dello Sport journalist Luca Bianchin, one of the newspapers’ reporters in Bergamo on Saturday, analysed Milan’s defeat, highlighting how the Diavoli showed ‘some of the old shortcomings’ at the Gewiss Stadium.
There wasn’t much good news for the Rossoneri, who, however, will likely see Rafael Leao return to the starting XI against Newcastle.
“He will try to play. The feeling is that as soon as there is a positive signal from Leao, he will start in Newcastle with Christian Pulisic on the right and Giroud as a striker,” said Bianchin.
“Beware of Jovic during the game. The strike partnership Jovic-Giroud did well in Bergamo. It was one of the few good news. The feeling is that Pioli will gladly introduce Jovic during the game, regardless of Leao who may not be fit to play 90 minutes.”
Jovic has scored two consecutive Serie A goals for Milan, against Frosinone and Atalanta.
The 25-year-old joined the Rossoneri on a free transfer from Fiorentina last summer, signing a contract until June 2024 with an option for a further year.