AC MILAN, Pato ready for the debut

© foto di Daniele Mascolo/Photoviews

- The international break is a chance for many clubs to fine tune their tactics, get players up to peak physical condition and work on getting injured players out of the infirmary and back onto the pitch.

Massimiliano Allegri and his squad have been working hard to make up for the disappointment of losing the derby against Inter in the hope of recommencing the league in the best possible physical and psychological shape.

The most promising news for the Milan coach over the last ten days comes from Alexandre Pato who is finally ready to play a competetive match. The Brazilian has failed to feature so far this season after picking up an injury in a pre-season training session but has slowly been recovering and has been training with the squad all week.

Now the Brazilian is fully fit once again and ready to contribute. It is a huge boost for the team who have found goals a little hard to come by so far this season. Pato's return comes just in time as the season goes into overdrive with Serie A and the Champions League in full flow and even the Italian Cup starting next month.

The 23-year-old should be available for selection for the match against Lazio at the Olimpico in Rome on saturday evening. It is a destination that has brought him goals in the past when he netted the opener in Milan's 3-0 victory over Lazio in 2009 and then scored the winner the following season.

It has been a torrid two years for Pato with chronic injury problems hampering his progress but both player and club will be hoping that this is the end of his troubles for good. With only one goal in eleven Serie A appearances last season, the young striker is desperate to rediscover his form of old and add to his 51 goals in the top flight.

Rome and Lazio seems like the perfect place to get his career back on track and get Milan climbing up the table fast.