Inzaghi still enjoying his football

He may be 35 but Filippo Inzaghi has become an increasingly important element in the AC Milan team this season.

The penalty-box predator scored his second hat-trick within two months on Sunday in Milan’s 5-1 hammering of Torino to take his tally to nine goals in his last six matches.

He more than anyone else has made the difference in Milan’s recent resurgence that has seen them join Juventus in joint second place in Serie A.

But when the season began, Inzaghi looked likely to play no more than a bit part with the likes of Ronaldinho, Andrei Shevchenko, Pato, Kaka and Marco Borriello also competing for forward positions.

In fact, before the turn of the year, most of his starts came in the UEFA Cup, where coach Carlo Ancelotti rotated his squad to give fringe players a game.

But now the veteran revealed he is loving his new lease of life.

“I’m still having fun, especially when I read in the papers that Milan don’t have a big strong forward who can score with his head. That motivates me,” he said.

Two of Inzaghi’s goals against Torino came from close range headers while a third header — all from David Beckham crosses — also found the net but was ruled out for offside.

The goals took Inzaghi’s Serie A count to 149, putting him second amongst active forwards behind AS Roma’s Francesco Totti and Alessandro Del Piero of Juventus.

And his run in the first team — he has started Milan’s last seven matches out of only 10 league starts this season — looks set to continue.

“Right now he’s a vital player for us,” said Ancelotti.