AS.com

According to sources within AC Milan, 'rossoneri' forward Stephan El Shaarawy is set to miss the club's Champions League showdown with Barcelona on Wednesday. The young Italian international has been struggling with tendonitis in his knees, and missed the San Siro side's 2-1 victory over Parma on Friday.

With recent signing Mario Balotelli (who has hit four goals in three appearances since joining during the January transfer window) unavailable for European duty having played for Manchester City earlier in the competition, coach Massimiliano Allegri is faced with a significant selection headache. Striker Giampaolo Pazzini appears to be a certain starter, but question marks remain over who will accompany him in attack. M'Baye Niang is admired at the Serie A club for his work-rate but lacks experience in Europe's premier club competition, while former Barça man Bojan Krkic may be given the nod following a string of good performances in recent games.

A further option for Allegri is Ghanaian international Kevin-Prince Boateng, a player who knows the feeling of scoring against Barcelona (he hit the net in last season's encounter between the two clubs at the San Siro) and from whom much is expected in this last-16 tie.