Pato ruled out for four weeks
Reuters - Thursday 22 September 2011, 19:33
ROME - AC Milan's Brazilian striker
Alexandre Pato was ruled out for a month with a thigh injury on
Thursday, adding to a worrying injury list for the Italian
champions.
The 22-year-old, who scored after 24 seconds of Milan's
recent draw with Barcelona in the Champions League, suffered the
injury against Udinese on Wednesday.
"Tests undertaken have revealed a muscle contraction in the
player's right thigh. The recovery period is estimated at four
weeks if there are no complications," a club statement said on
Thursday.
Serie A champions Milan, who face Cesena on Saturday and
Viktoria Plzen in the Champions League on Wednesday, are facing
an injury crisis with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Robinho, Kevin-Prince
Boateng, Massimo Ambrosini, Gennaro Gattuso, Philippe Mexes and
Luca Antonini all sidelined.
"We have to work out why this boy [Pato] is now suffering
from muscle strains when in 2008 and 2009 he had no problems,"
Milan General Manager Adriano Galliani told reporters.
"It's not about being lucky or unlucky. We have 10 to 12
players out so it's difficult for us now. When we get our
players back, we will start winning matches."
Milan, who have two points from three games this season,
threw youngster Stephen El Sharaawy and veteran Filippo Inzaghi
into the attack alongside Antonio Cassano in Wednesday's 1-1
draw with Udinese.