Allegri important Leao injury update: ‘Fullkrug different for Milan’
Max Allegri gives an important injury update on Rafael Leao and warns Milan ‘need to be on our toes’ against Torino. ‘Niclas Fullkrug has different characteristics.’
It kicks off at San Siro at 17.00 GMT (18.00 CET).
You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from today’s Serie A games on the Liveblog.
It has been a strange couple of weeks for the Rossoneri, as they went from sudden Scudetto contenders beating Inter in the Derby della Madonnina, to losing 1-0 at Lazio and finding themselves closer to fifth place than to the Serie A leaders.
Allegri forced to make Milan changes
“It is an important match, as we are coming off a defeat, the table is closing up, and we need to be on our toes,” Allegri told DAZN Italia.
“Torino are doing very well, they are defensively strong, solid on second balls and deadly with counter-attacks, so we need focus and determination.”
Rafael Leao had a touchline tantrum when substituted against Lazio, but that won’t be repeated tonight because he is out with an adductor injury, replaced by Niclas Fullkrug.
It had been reported there was no lesion and it therefore wasn’t serious, but Allegri notes it is still sufficient to rule Leao out of international duty.
“Unfortunately, he felt this twinge in training yesterday, we talked with Rafa, and decided it was best not to risk it. I think Portugal removed him from their squad too for international duty, so he’ll have a couple of weeks to make a full recovery, then we can dive into the final eight games of the season.
“He needs specific work to get back to 100 per cent, Leao is in no condition to play for Portugal either.”
With Fullkrug as a centre-forward on loan from West Ham United, it is a very different interpretation of the role to Leao, and so Milan will be expected to provide more crosses.
“Fullkrug has different characteristics. Even if he didn’t score that many goals, Leao moved well acting as a centre-forward, we just didn’t give him the right service,” insisted Allegri.
“Of course, Fullkrug is more accustomed to that position.”
Santiago Gimenez is on the bench for the first time since his ankle problem started in October, while Adrien Rabiot returns from suspension and Davide Bartesaghi is back in the starting XI.
“I am fortunate enough to see Modric train every day and I think it’ll be tough to see one like him again in future,” noted Allegri when asked if the 40-year-old is planning on retirement this summer.