Zenit St Petersburg left-back Domenico Criscito will wear a plastic mask to protect a broken cheekbone if he plays in this evening’s Champions League Group C clash with Milan.
“I’ll be ready to play tomorrow (today) but head coach (Luciano Spalletti) will make a final decision,” the Italy international told the club’s website (www.fc-zenit.ru) yesterday.
Criscito, who missed Zenit’s 3-0 defeat at Malaga in their Champions League opener last month with a thigh injury, broke his left cheekbone in Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Lokomotiv Moscow.
The 25-year-old, who joined Zenit from Genoa a year ago, said he knew Milan well from Serie A.
“I’ve played against them many times in the past, tasting both defeat and victories. Now, they have a young team that wants to prove itself at this level,” he said.
The Russian club said Belgium midfielder Axel Witsel, who joined Zenit for €40 million from Benfica just before last month’s transfer deadline, was available for selection after recovering from a pulled hamstring.
However, the Russian champions are still missing injured midfielder Sergei Semak and Portugal international Danny as well as Russia skipper Igor Denisov, who has refused to play for the club and demanded to renegotiate his contract.