AC Milan head to Udine with a heavily depleted squad. Six confirmed absentees, a lineup that is almost predetermined, and several youngsters called up to plug the gaps: this is the reality Rúben Amorim is dealing with ahead of the away fixture against Udinese.
The Injured: Precautionary Absences for Gila, Moreira and Rabiot
Three first-team regulars pulled up during the pre-match training session: Mario Gila (ankle), Diego Moreira (muscle fatigue) and Adrien Rabiot (calf issue). The situation closely mirrors what happened ahead of the Bournemouth game, when Gonçalo Ramos pulled out of training and was not called up.
In all three cases these are precautionary absences, not structural injuries. The club, medical staff and coaching staff chose not to take any risks, managing the situation with a cool head to avoid turning minor niggles into more serious problems. This is, after all, Amorim’s philosophy: as soon as a player feels any physical discomfort, he is immediately rested.
Return Timelines: Encouraging Signs
The injury news is nonetheless positive. Mario Gila and Diego Moreira could be back in contention as early as the Bologna match. For the derby, both defenders as well as Rabiot should be available. The French midfielder will need a couple of extra days of careful management — the calf is always a sensitive area — but this is by no means a long-term injury: he is expected to be back within a few games.
Six Absentees in Total
Added to the three who pulled up in training are Alexis Saelemaekers, Matteo Gabbia and Samuel Chukwueze, bringing the total number of absentees to six. For the first two the prognosis is more concerning, with reports suggesting their absence could extend into 2027. The Nigerian winger Chukwueze is still working his way through recovery, with no confirmed return date yet. An injury crisis unlike anything seen so far this season.
Probable Lineup: 4-3-3 or 3-5-2
With such a thin squad, Amorim has limited options. The Portuguese head coach is likely to set up in a 4-3-3 with Mike Maignan in goal; Fikayo Tomori, Koni De Winter, Strahinja Pavlović and Davide Bartesaghi in defence. In midfield: Yunus Musah, Luka Modrić and Ardon Jashari. Up front, the trio of Omari Hutchinson, Gonçalo Ramos and Christian Pulisic.
A 3-5-2 variant is also a possibility: Hutchinson could drop into midfield, with Bartesaghi shifting into a more central role and Pulisic operating just behind Ramos as a second striker or attacking midfielder. The availability of Gonçalo Ramos, who has recovered from his calf tightness, is crucial and represents one of the few certainties of what promises to be a demanding evening.
It should also be noted that Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Pavlović are not at 100%: the Englishman came off with a knee issue against Bournemouth, while the Serbian centre-back finished the game with some discomfort. Both are expected to start nonetheless.
Young Players on the Bench: Cissé, Comotto, Diawara and More
The squad list is rounded out by several Next Gen players. On the bench: Alphadjo Cissé, Christian Comotto, Sankhoun Diawara, Loftus-Cheek and Francesco Camarda. Youth players Voss and Ossola — the latter already seen in pre-season with the first team — have also been included to complete the matchday squad. An unavoidable choice that underlines just how long the injury list has become.
The quality of the squad, when forced to rely on depth players this early, becomes the true test of character. Milan have the mental resilience and tactical discipline to come away from Udine with a positive result, and confidence in the group and in Amorim’s work remains firmly intact.
