'Examplary' mario Ballotelli set for milan start

Mario Balotelli could make his first start since
returning to AC Milan as 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
following a mitigated 18 months at the San Siro.
The 25-year-old has made two appearances so far
for Sinisa Mihajlovic’s side, coming off the bench
in the second half in the 1-0 derby defeat to Inter
Milan and then against Palermo on Saturday when
fellow striker Carlos Bacca hit a brace in a 3-2
victory over 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, who was ordered to adhere
to a strict list of rules by the Italian giants upon
his arrival last month, could start for Milan.
Despite having his driving licence suspended last
month for speeding in his Lamborghini at 90 km/h
in a 50 km/h zone, the 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 but I want to keep as
many of my regulars as possible,” 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-year-old at
Inter and now he’s 25.
“All I knew was what I read in the newspapers and
what I saw him do when he was playing. Up until
now, he’s been exemplary on and off the pitch.
“I can’t fault his behaviour, although I always
impress on him to improve.”
After failing to qualify for Europe this season,
seven-time European champions Milan are
desperate to turn their ailing fortunes around,
although the Rossoneri have won only two of their
four games so far.
With three goals in four matches it has been a
positive start for Bacca, but Mihajlovic warned the
Colombian striker not to rest on his laurels and
ordered Milan’s defence, having conceded six
times already, to plug the holes.
“I’m very demanding with myself and my players.
I’m never satisfied,” added Mihajlovic. “Bacca has
scored three goals, but he could have had more.”
He added: “Tomorrow our objective is to not
concede any goals. We know the areas in which
we need to improve.”