Milan to welcome back Inzaghi
Monday, October 10, 2005
Article summary
Italian international striker Filippo Inzaghi is ready to make his first AC Milan appearance of the season after recovering from a knee injury.
Article body
Treble tonic
The 32-year-old Italian international proved his fitness with a successful comeback with Milan's youth team on Saturday, scoring three goals in a 4-2 win against AC Legnano.
Patient approach
"This game was like a [UEFA] Champions League final for me," he said. "I cannot live without football but I wanted to be patient and be completely ready before resuming playing. I learnt that patience is the key with these kinds of injuries but now I can smile because I'm a footballer again. I have no more doubts about my future."
Injury woe
Inzaghi has scored 30 goals in 75 Serie A games for the Rossoneri since 2001, but has suffered a series of injuries since the Champions League triumph of 2002/03 and Scudetto victory the following campaign. Ankle surgery ruled him out of UEFA EURO 2004™ and an operation on the same ankle last November limited him to eleven Serie A appearances last term, while a knee injury has prevented him from playing this season.
Ancelotti relief
"He played very well and I'm happy he is now available for us," said Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti. "I will include him in the squad for the trip to Cagliari [Calcio] next weekend." Inzaghi could then be in line for his first Champions League outing of 2005/06 when Milan host PSV Eindhoven on 19 October.