Time for Hauge to get more of an opportunity for Milan in crucial season end

   April 29, 2021

AC Milan face a decisive run of five games to end the Serie A season, and to date, Jens Petter Hauge continues to struggle for playing time.

The Rossoneri dropped to fifth place in the standings after defeat to Lazio on Monday night, and so we simply can’t afford any more slip ups if we want to qualify for the Champions League.

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That run starts against Benevento this Saturday, while we still have to face rivals Juventus and Atalanta in direct head-to-head clashes in the battle for a top-four finish.

As noted by MilanNews, via the paper edition of Tuttosport, it has been suggested that Samu Castillejo could get the nod on the right flank instead of Alexis Saelemaekers as Stefano Pioli looks to perhaps freshen things up a little, but a player who has been more impactful continues to be snubbed.

Hauge more impactful than Milan teammates

Hauge has been limited to 28 appearances so far this season, with many of those coming off the bench late in games.

Despite his lack of regular playing time to find his feet and be as influential as possible for us, he has still managed an impressive return of eight goals and three assists in those outings.

That goal tally is more than any other winger in the Milan squad, with Ante Rebic and Rafael Leao tied on seven apiece, albeit three of them did come in qualification for the Europa League.

In contrast, Castillejo is well down the list as he’s managed a disappointing tally of three goals along with just three assists in 40 appearances, the most of any of the individuals in question.

Ultimately, the Spaniard hasn’t done enough to warrant a place in the starting line-up this weekend.

Yes, he works hard for the team and his energy to press high up the pitch is a valuable attribute. However, at this stage of the season, Milan need difference makers who can win us games with a moment of quality and those who can provide the service to Zlatan Ibrahimovic for him to be decisive too.

Rebic has that about him, as he can pull out a brilliant finish from nowhere while also providing us with great work ethic down the left flank to put in a defensive shift too.

Admittedly, that is Hauge’s more natural role and so if he was to come into the side, it would have to be over on the opposite flank where we haven’t see much of him.

Nevertheless, what we do know is that the Norwegian ace will be itching to prove his quality whenever he gets a chance. He has pace, movement and an eye for goal that makes him dangerous to opponents, and his track record simply shows he has been more involved in goals this season than any other option in that position.

Saelemaekers is still the ‘safe’ option on the right side, and so there is no real issue with the Belgian getting a place in the starting XI this weekend, especially if he has Ibrahimovic back as a focal point in attack to work off.

However, if we’re struggling and searching for goals in the second half, it’s surely Hauge who deserves the call off the bench first before any of the others as he has shown that he can get goals, many of which have come in important moments to influence the result of games.