Alexandre Pato expected to return to AC Milan squad this weekend

There is good news for AC Milan this week as Brazilian striker Alexandre Pato is likely to return to the squad after a series of injuries that have kept him off the pitch since August. Pato could play in the coming game against Lazio on Oct. 20 but he is most likely not going to start as Milan will likely try to ease him back into action.

AC Milan’s troubling form is lasting longer than expected as the Rossoneri have not yet found replacements for Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva. Stephan El Shaarawy, a 19-year-old rising star, has been credited as being the future key for Milan’s success but he is not yet able to carry the entire team on his own. He needs help and the return of Pato could be just that.
Pato is technically back as he scored a brace for the Milan’s youth team winning the match 2-1 during a 60 minute outing according to Football Italia reports.
El Shaarawy’s job is to score and,after a slow opening to the campaign, he has done that five times in four matches. Pato is also one of the best young striking stars of soccer and it is hoped that the two can form a fruitful attacking style for the Rossoneri.

El Shaarawy and Pato would work well in a trio with veteran Giampaolo Pazzini. Then the two can work the wing positions as Pazzini takes on the striker’s role.
Playing them together is a little too offensive for Milan’s coach Massimiliano Allegri but it can hardly hurt to try it out while Pato is still not a 100 percent and El Shaarawy can take the heat of being the lead striker. The Pharaoh has the physical strength and pace. Later on, if Pato is the go-to striker, then El Shaarawy can expand his range, play the flanks, and even move deeper. The two can complement each other. Pato has great technique and El Shaarawy is fast and attacks with ease.
Allegri has been quoted by Goal.com as saying that Pato and Robinho will be a great tandem; however, Robinho is injured again. He will miss the match against Lazio as well as the Champions League game against Malaga in Spain. Robinho’s continued absence is another opportunity to pair Pato and El Shaarawy.
Milan creates chance but they need to get better finishing the attack. Pato has a vision for that and knows how to score. With Milan currently in 11th place in the Serie A table thanks to only two victories out of all seven matches so far it is time of for a change.
With Milan in reconstruction this season and that’s why the results this far should not be regarded as the end of the world. The Rossoneri have a lot of young talent â€" Pato, El Shaarawy, Mattia De Sciglio, Bojan Krkic to name a fewâ€" on the team and Allegri will eventually figure out an effective way to group them. Even if former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola joins the team, these players still won’t be at their best and will grow with every game.