Many AC Milan fans have been calling for Stefano Pioli to use Noah Okafor as a centre-forward when Olivier Giroud needs rest or cannot play as opposed to fielding Luka Jovic.
However, as Calciomercato.com recall, Okafor has not scored a goal since September 30 when he netted the second goal in the 2-0 win over Lazio at San Siro, while he hasn’t scored in the Champions League since October 2022 with Red Bull Salzburg and with the Switzerland his last goal was in June.
Okafor is one of the players Pioli hopes will step up with the attack reduced to a minimum by injuries and suspensions ahead of the resumption of games after the international break, with the matches against Fiorentina and Borussia Dortmund huge in the scheme of the season.
Pioli is confident of HAVING Christian Pulisic and Rafa Leao back for the Dortmund game, but with Jovic appearing so far of little use to the cause there is a need to find the best version of Okafor, who has been imited by some physical problems.
He cost €15m in the summer and he was a very specific choice to have a replacement both for Leao on the left wing and Giroud up front, where he has played in the last couple of games for Switzerland.
He played 69 minutes against Israel plus injury time and then 75 minutes against Kosovo, so that will have to be considered. This is why Jovic could start as a slight favourite for the match against his former team Fiorentina, with Okafor preserved for Borussia Dortmund, against whom Giroud will play.
The last few matches before the international break have reiterated once again that, without the Frenchman, Milan are struggling to score goals.