AC Milan boss Paulo Fonseca will have to do without Noah Okafor for tonight’s game at San Siro against Empoli, it has been confirmed.
During the build-up to the game it became apparent that Okafor was never really a candidate to start the game, having got the nod in midweek against Slovan Bratislava but being outshone by the substitute Rafael Leao.
Nonetheless, the expectation was that he would be able to potentially come off the bench during the game and make an impact, as he has done on so many other occasions in his time at the club so far.
However, when the starting line-ups were announced, the Swiss forward’s name did not feature either in the XI or on the bench. The former Salzburg man has come down with the flu, and therefore he will not be available to Fonseca.
It does mean that Milan are without a back-up left winger meaning Leao might need to play the full game, though Christian Pulisic can play on the left, while Samu Chukwueze remains an option for the wing from the bench.
Yunus Musah is the player who has been named on the right, though it will be interesting to see what tactical role he has.