Luka Jovic will battle it out with Noah Okafor for a starting spot in the game against Fiorentina next weekend. Contrary to popular belief, the Serbian could actually be the favourite in the race, a report claims.
Olivier Giroud will be serving a suspension in the next two league games and this means Stefano Pioli will have to field another No.9. Normally, Okafor would be the obvious choice but there are a few factors at play this time out.
As highlighted by Sky Italia’s Manuele Baiocchini (via Espertheo), Jovic is absolutely in the running for a starting spot. Okafor is currently on international duty with Switzerland, playing three games in seven days, while the Serbian has been able to work calmly at Milanello.
Furthermore, Jovic’s spell at Fiorentina didn’t exactly go according to plan and he thus has a lot to prove next Saturday. The La Viola fans made their thoughts clear when he left the club and now is an opportunity for the striker to silence them.
Should Jovic start in the game, then Okafor could be fielded on the left flank instead, although Christian Pulisic is also an option for that role. The final assessments will be made next week at Milanello, of course.
Nahhhh
Ok no choice here but Lord Jovic, but we could use Camarda as supersub and celebrate youngest player ever to make debut in senior team 😀
@Roses. “celebrate youngest player ever to make debut in senior team” Uh, that’s not an “achievement”. Also, Okafor is a choice. Not sure why he wouldn’t be. He doesn’t have nearly the minutes played as most of the other starters, despite this busy spell with the national team. He should be totally fine, and if anything in match form.
Roses even if we wanted to give camarda his debut next week we wouldnt just be allowed to do so as he would need permission from the figc to get fielded at such a young age same when he turns 16 in march.
Ehh Jovic & Okafor both to start?
Just speculation at this point. Jovic hasn’t done anything to show I’m he’s a good starting option. But in past seasons, Pioli has started with weaker players then subbed in the starters to try and get a result which hasn’t always worked.
As opposed to starting strong, getting goals, then subbing out starters. Okafor should start flanked by Puli and Chuk.
Jovic should start.
He will have extra motivation to perform well vs his old club.
Also, people act like Okafor has been so much better than Jovic .it’s basically like picking between Origi and Rebic last season.
Neither one of them has proven that should start, but at least Jovic is more suited to play from the start. Okafor can bring more of the bench if things are not going according to plan because of his playing style.
Start Jovic flanked by Pulisic and Chukwueze and bring Okafor of the bench to shake things up
Okafor at least scored in the games he started.
If Pioli starts Jovic then I hope that will be the ending of his time at Milan. I’m so tired of Pioli. I can’t wait for Milan to replace him. This season is already painful to watch and we are not even in December yet. SMH
Okafor has been absolutely solid so far with 2 goals in not even 400 minutes. Doesn‘t mean that there isn‘t a case for Jovic depending on circumstances but no need to be pessimistic about Okafor (and at this point Okafor doesn‘t even need to be more than a good sub/rotation)
The other reason to start Jovic is that if Pulisic-Okafor-Chukwueze start we have no impact sub who has played at senior level.
Say the 3 above start but we’re down in the second half and nothing is working, what then? Bring on Jovic? That’s not going to work.
I agree Bruno and there is also considerations in regard of the match 3 days later so we doesn’t overload our players ahead of an even more important match against dortmund,
Its a bit of a pickle we are in as we also need to get jovic up in gears even though he hasn’t showcased anything up until now but at the same time also has to juggle a couple of players coming back from injuries and hopefully avoid sennding them back to the medical team.