Milan expect Pato to face Gunners

Milan are optimistic that Brazilian wonderkid Alexandre Pato will recover from an injury in time to make the trip to London to face Arsenal in the Champions League on February 20.

At just 18 years of age and with just six Serie A appearances under his belt, Pato is already a central figure for coach Carlo Ancelotti and has scored four goals in a prodigious start to his Milan career.

His first injury concern came on Sunday though as he picked up an ankle problem after scoring the only goal of the game in a 1-0 win over Fiorentina.

There had been fears that the problem could prevent him from appearing in the first leg of the last 16 clash at Emirates Stadium, but Rossoneri vice-president Adriano Galliani expects the exciting teenager to return.

"I have heard from the doctors. The hope is that we will have him for London," Galliani told reporters.

Players such as Ronaldo, Kaka, Clarence Seedorf and Filippo Inzaghi are all currently injured, but they should return along with midfield enforcer Gennaro Gattuso who is progressing well from a thigh injury.

"He has a muscle problem," Galliani added. “We need to speak to the doctors but we hope to have him available next week.”

Source:setanta.com