Milan's costly slip ups
The last thing AC Milan needed was an injury to its most prolific striker as it slipped eight points adrift of Serie A.
Successive 1-0 league defeats to Livorno and Bologna have put a major dent in the Rossoneri's Scudetto hopes while European Footballer of the Year Andriy Schevchenko was hurt in a crunching tackle on Sunday.
However, the Ukraine ace could be back on deck as soon as next weekend with initial fears of a long-term injury allayed.
"It was a strong challenge, but the injury doesn't seem too serious," Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti said. "It's difficult to see him playing on Wednesday at Messina, but I hope to have him available for next Sunday [against Lazio]."
With the knockout phase of the Champions League commencing later this month, Ancelotti will have his fingers crossed that his star forward is fit and raring to go.
"Shevchenko has a big gash," Milan doctor Jean Pierre Meersseman said on Sunday. "The ankle isn't swollen, but he feels bad. We will have to wait until tomorrow to make a more precise diagnosis."
Meanwhile, Argentine striker Hernan Crespo believes luck has played a part in Milan's recent run of outs.
"We are not going through a crisis in terms of our play but in terms of getting results," Crespo explained.
"In the last week, our rivals have been able to find the target while we have hit the crossbar, the post and found defenders' legs that have cleared the ball on the goal line."