HARD AT WORK

(IN THE PHOTO: Adel Taarabt and Robinho at Milanello)MILAN – After Monday’s day of rest, the players returned to the Milanello Sports Centre yesterday to prepare for Saturday’s match Milan-Livorno.The players headed out onto the central pitch at 16.00 and began with a warm-up which was then followed by a possession drill before doing some fitness work in pairs.In the second part of the training session, Pazzini, Robinho, Zapata, Saponara, Birsa, Emanuelson and Abbiati practiced crosses and shots on goals.Individuals: Muntari worked on his personalised training programme which consisted of jogging and running drills. Essien and Petagna also worked apart from the rest of the group in the gym.The following 6 players were absent from Milanello today as they were called up by Italy’s head coach Cesare Prandelli for fitness tests at Coverciano: Abate, De Sciglio, Montolivo, Poli, Balotelli and El Shaarawy.Tomorrow meanwhile could mark the return of a few players from injury at Milanello with De Sciglio, Muntari and Petagna all close to resuming training again with the rest of the group after their respective injuries.