Allegri hopeful of Cassano return

AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri is hopeful striker Antonio Cassano will be match fit before the end of the season.

The Italy international has been out of action since undergoing heart surgery in November after suffering a mini-stroke on the club’s flight back from a match in Rome.

There have been conflicting reports on Cassano’s recovery time, with Italy coach Cesare Prandelli stating last month that the striker is working hard to regain match sharpness to be available for Euro 2012.

Allegri believes the 29-year-old will be able to help the club in the last matches of the season, which should increase the striker’s chances of making Prandelli’s squad for Poland and Ukraine.

“We hope to have him back by the end of the season,” Allegri told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “For us and for the Italy national team.”

“Antonio was having the best year of his career in terms of physical and technical levels.”

“Prandelli has been doing a good job and we hope to give him Cassano. It would be an important boost for us and Italy.”

Allegri was also questioned about last month’s 1-1 draw with Juventus, in which Milan controversially had a goal disallowed, and criticised their Turin rivals for enforcing a media blackout.

“It was a bad decision, but it is part of the game,” Allegri added. “(Sulley) Muntari’s goal was very clear, but Juventus are still debating whether (Simone) Pepe’s goal was offside or not.”

“After the matches, we have to discuss technical and tactical matters, not the officials’ decisions.”

“There is no tension on our part, but I see that many are putting together dossiers and no one is discussing the decisions which favoured Juventus.”

“It is clear that what happened with Muntari took place in an important match, but we hope that it will not be decisive in the Scudetto race.”