AC Milan news: Mandzukic fitness boost ahead of Juventus clash

AC Milan could have Mario Mandzukic available for the encounter with Juventus on Sunday night, as the Croatian forward returned to group training on Tuesday.

The 34-year-old has been limited to just eight appearances for the Rossoneri since joining us in January, with injury and now illness keeping him on the sidelines.

READ MORE: Talking tactics: Ibrahimovic, Calhanoglu key for Milan in win over Benevento

It has been a setback for Stefano Pioli as it has limited his options up front, particularly when Zlatan Ibrahimovic was ruled out with an injury issue of his own in recent weeks.

With just four games to go and as we continue to battle for Champions League qualification, the Milan boss will no doubt hope to have a full strength squad to choose from, and it appears as though Mandzukic could be available against Juventus on Sunday night.

As per MilanNews, the veteran forward returned to group training on Tuesday having recovered from a bout of bronchitis.

Ibrahimovic made his own comeback last weekend in the win over Benevento and will be expected to start in Turin, but Pioli will potentially have Mandzukic available on the bench now if he needs a different dynamic in attack depending on how the game plays out.

Milan currently sit in fourth place in the Serie A table, level on points with both Atalanta and Juventus, while we hold a slender advantage of just two points over Napoli.

With that in mind, coupled with the fact that we still play Atalanta on the final weekend of the campaign, it’s a pivotal showdown with the Bianconeri this weekend and one that we can’t afford to lose.