Milan, September 21

Mario Balotelli could make his full second debut for AC Milan when the Rossoneri travel to Udinese on Tuesday looking to build on their gutsy 3-2 win over Palermo at the weekend.

Balotelli re-joined Milan on a season-long loan deal last month after a disastrous year with Liverpool, whom he joined in the summer of 2014 after a mitigated 18 months at the San Siro. Balotelli has made two appearances so far for Sinisa Mihajlovic’s side, coming off the bench in the second half away to Inter Milan (1-0) and at home to Palermo on Sunday when fellow striker Carlos Bacca hit a brace of goals against the Sicilians.

With Slovakian midfielder Juraj Kucka and defender Ignazio Abate joining Milan’s growing casualty list, Mihajlovic said on Monday he is set to ring the changes for a trip north which he labelled “difficult”. That means Balotelli could start for Milan.

Despite having his driving licence suspended last month for speeding in his Lamborghini at 90 km/h, the 24-year-old striker has satisfied Mihajlovic with his “exemplary” behaviour “on and off the pitch”.

“Balotelli could start, but I haven’t decided yet. There will be a few changes,” said the Serbian. Asked if he thought Balotelli had changed, Mihajlovic added: “I don’t know what he was like before, I knew him when he was a 17 and now he’s 25.”

After failing to qualify for Europe this season, seven-time European champions Milan are desperate to turn ailing fortunes around although the Rossoneri have won only two of their four games so far. With three goals in four games it has been a positive start for Carlos Bacca, but Mihajlovic warned the striker not to rest on his laurels and said Milan’s defence, having conceded six times already, to plug the holes.