AC Milan return from the international break in a stronger position on the pitch but with a growing injury problem that threatens to reshape their squad and tactics. The most pressing concern is the fitness of two key players: Alexis Saelemaekers, whose ankle injury has proven more serious than first thought and will keep him out for several months, and Pervis Estupinan, who picked up a knock with Ecuador and faces a race to be fit for the restart. Together, the absences force Ruben Amorim to rethink his approach ahead of Sunday's Serie A trip to Sassuolo.

The situation has accelerated Diego Moreira's rise in the pecking order. The Belgian winger, signed from Strasbourg in August, looks set to become a regular starter, with Amorim weighing up how best to use him in a system that may itself be changing. Reports from Milanello suggest the manager, who built his reputation on a back three, could switch to a 4-2-3-1 against Sassuolo, a significant tactical shift.

Despite the injury disruption, there are reasons for confidence. The 3-0 win over Lecce before the break was convincing, and Gonçalo Ramos scored for Portugal during the international window, a timely boost for a striker who has yet to fully deliver in Serie A. Milan sit fifth with 11 points from five games, one point behind Cagliari in fourth, and the pressure to close that gap starts again on Sunday.