Milan arrive at the Vitality Stadium carrying genuine momentum but also fresh injury concerns that will test Ruben Amorim's squad depth. The club has won back-to-back games for the first time since the opening weeks of the season, following a 4-0 demolition of Red Bull Salzburg in Europa League and a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Atalanta in Serie A, a result that lifted them to fourth in the table with 15 points from seven games. The wins have restored confidence around the club after an inconsistent start, and Amorim is beginning to find his best eleven.

The challenge now is sustaining that form without two key attackers. Gonçalo Ramos, who has started every available game this season, picked up an injury in training before the trip to England. Samuel Chukwueze is also out with a physical problem that has been troubling him for some time. Amorim is expected to start Francesco Camarda as centre-forward, with Alpha Cisse, who scored a hat-trick against Salzburg, getting his chance in the starting lineup after being left on the bench against Atalanta.

Off the pitch, the club is closing in on Markus Krosche as its new Head of Football. The German left Eintracht Frankfurt by mutual consent and is expected to arrive in Milan, potentially alongside his trusted deputy Timmo Hardung. The appointment would bring greater structure to the club's sporting operations at a moment when Amorim is building something worth protecting.