AC Milan Turn to Milan Futuro as Injuries Test Squad Depth Before Udinese Match
AC Milan are preparing for a demanding trip to Udine with their squad stretched by a growing injury list. Ahead of tomorrow evening’s meeting with Udinese, Ruben Amorim has called up five players from Milan Futuro, the club’s development side, as the senior team looks for fresh options and greater flexibility.
The latest absences include Gila, Adrien Rabiot and Moreira, who have joined Alexis Saelemaekers, Matteo Gabbia, Samuel Chukwueze and Filippo Terracciano on the sidelines. With several players unavailable across different positions, Amorim may have to adjust both his matchday squad and tactical plans for a fixture that could demand patience, physical resilience and quick decision-making.
Five Milan Futuro players earn senior call-ups
The young players travelling with the first team are Luca Menon, a right winger; Nirash Perera, a left-sided wide player; Silvano Vos, a former Ajax midfielder; Lorenzo Ossola, an attacking midfielder; and El Hadji Malick Cissé, a centre-back. Their inclusion gives Milan additional cover in wide areas, midfield and defence while creating an opportunity for the prospects to experience the demands of senior football.
The call-ups do not necessarily mean that all five will feature against Udinese. However, their presence gives Amorim more options from the bench and provides insurance in case the match brings further fitness concerns. For a coach managing a depleted squad, the ability to call on players who can fill several roles can be especially valuable over the course of a long, competitive evening.
Injuries create a selection challenge for Amorim
Milan’s injury situation affects more than the number of available substitutes. Saelemaekers and Chukwueze offer pace and attacking width, while Gabbia and Terracciano provide defensive depth. Rabiot’s absence, meanwhile, removes an experienced midfield option capable of contributing physically and helping the side progress the ball. The combined losses may force Amorim to balance attacking ambition with the need to protect the team’s structure.
That challenge is particularly relevant away from home. Udinese can make matches uncomfortable by competing aggressively, contesting second balls and using their physical presence to disrupt an opponent’s rhythm. Milan will need to remain composed under pressure, avoid careless turnovers and make effective use of possession if they are to control the tempo.
Amorim’s choices may depend on which senior players are fit enough to start and how much risk the coaching staff is willing to take. If the available wide players are limited, Milan could rely more heavily on full-backs to provide width or use attacking midfielders in narrower positions. In midfield, a reshaped unit may need to share defensive responsibilities carefully to prevent Udinese from finding space during transitions.
A chance for the academy to make an impression
For the Milan Futuro players, travelling with the first team is a significant step, even if their role remains limited. Training alongside senior professionals and preparing for a top-level away fixture offers valuable experience that cannot be replicated in youth competition. It also allows Amorim and his staff to assess how the prospects respond to the pace, preparation and tactical detail of first-team football.
Vos brings experience from his time with Ajax, while Menon and Perera offer options on opposite sides of the pitch. Ossola can provide creativity in an advanced midfield role, and Cissé gives the squad another natural centre-back. Their different profiles could help Milan respond to specific match situations, whether the team needs fresh energy, a change of shape or additional defensive cover.
Using academy players can be a practical answer to a short-term injury crisis, but it also reflects a broader club strategy: developing a pathway between the youth setup and the senior side. A strong performance from any of the five would not only help Milan in Udine; it could also strengthen the player’s case for future involvement as the season continues.
What to watch in the Udinese fixture
The match may be shaped by Milan’s ability to manage the opening stages and maintain concentration without several established options. Udinese are likely to test the visitors physically and look for opportunities to attack quickly after winning possession. Milan, in turn, will want to move the ball with purpose, stretch the opposition and avoid allowing the home side to settle into a direct, high-pressure contest.
Set pieces could also become an important factor. With defensive personnel missing, Milan will need clear assignments when defending corners and free kicks. At the other end, disciplined delivery and well-timed movement may offer a route to goal if open-play chances are difficult to create.
The bench could prove just as influential as the starting lineup. If the game remains tight, Amorim may turn to the Milan Futuro call-ups for energy or tactical flexibility. Their potential involvement would be a reminder that squad depth is not measured only by the number of senior players available, but also by the readiness of younger footballers to respond when called upon.
Match prediction: a test of Milan’s resilience
Any football prediction for this contest must account for Milan’s injury problems and the demands of playing away from home. The absences reduce Amorim’s choices, while Udinese’s physical approach could make the match difficult to control. Still, Milan’s quality and experience give them the tools to compete if they remain organised and make the most of their attacking opportunities.
A narrow, closely fought encounter appears more likely than a comfortable win for either side. Milan’s best route may be to keep the defensive shape compact, limit Udinese’s counterattacks and show efficiency in the final third. The five Milan Futuro players add welcome depth, but the result will probably depend on how well the senior group adapts to the missing personnel.
For Amorim, the trip to Udine is therefore both a selection test and an opportunity to assess the club’s emerging talent under pressure. Milan will hope that the injury crisis does not derail their plans—and that the next generation is ready if the match demands a contribution.
