Milan are confident that both Kaka and Alexandre Pato will be fit to start their UEFA Champions League clash with Arsenal.
Kaka and Pato to face Gunners
Milan are confident that both Kaka and Alexandre Pato will be fit to start their UEFA Champions League clash with Arsenal.
Neither are expected to be risked in upcoming Serie A matches - but they should be available for the opening leg of the clash against Arsenal at the Emirates.
Pato hurt his ankle against Fiorentina at the weekend and it was feared a lengthy lay-off would follow.
But Milan have now insisted Pato will be okay for the trip to North London.
"Pato is much better. Up until Tuesday he was walking with the aid of crutches, but now he can walk without feeling any pain," Milan head of medicine Jean Pierre Meersseman told the club's website.
"We are confident of his recovery time. We thought it would take two or three weeks, but now I think within a fortnight he can be recovered and ready for the match with Arsenal.
"Pato was certainly very frightened, as it was his first injury and came after scoring a fantastic goal the day before he was set to join the Brazilian national team. It was a physical blow and a psychological one."
Kaka
Kaka was also forced off during the match with Fiorentina amid claims he had a chronic knee problem.
But Meersseman has also quashed any fears of a long-term problem for Kaka.
"Kaka will certainly be available against Arsenal, but he won't be there with Siena," confirmed Meersseman.
"This knee injury has been going on for almost two years and he always feels a little pain the day after a match. This is why we decided to take action so he can recover quicker in future."
Meersseman also revealed that midfield anchorman Rino Gattuso could also be back.
"We need to protect Rino from himself, as he feels no pain and so pushed forward through everything. We need in-depth tests to see if there really is any damage or not," he added.
Milan also confirmed that both Ronaldo and Filippo Inzaghi have returned to training and should be fit to face Siena at the weekend, as should long-term absentee Marek Jankulovski.
