How Keisuke Honda Has Been Growing into His Role with AC Milan

Much was expected of Keisuke Honda when he was brought over on a free transfer last January from CSKA Moscow to join AC Milan.

After all, the Japanese international was one of the best players in the Russian Premier League, and he had showed on an international level how good he could be linking up with teammates and excelling as a set-piece specialist.

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Unfortunately, Honda wasn't able to acclimate to Serie A at all in his first season. Perhaps it had something to do with him having already played a full season in Russia with virtually no break going into the second half of the Serie A campaign. 

Former coach Clarence Seedorf stuck with him despite constant criticism. He looked slow, languid and the technique many fans had seen throughout his years in Russia and with his country were nowhere to be found.

The easiest excuse to make was that he was playing out of position as a right-sided winger in a 4-2-3-1. Honda had enjoyed most of his time previous to that as a trequartista, operating right behind the striker where he had full vision of the field and was able to pick out passes with ease.

When Filippo Inzaghi took over, Honda's role became even more unclear. In the Italian's 4-3-3 formation, he'd either have to play again as a winger or as an outside player in the midfield trio.

Interestingly, Inzaghi kept Honda as a winger, urging him to cut on his left foot as much as possible and even giving him a target man like Fernando Torres to aim at in the box.

Remember, Mario Balotelli was just about useless in the air for Milan. That was never his game.

Honda repaid Inzaghi's faith. He showed no signs of fatigue despite having gone to the World Cup with Japan and having played in all those summer friendlies in North America.

His effort has been excellent. Honda is often seen in his own half helping out the full-back with an opposing winger or an overlapping player making the run down the flank.

"

Keisuke Honda. A decent player with a magical left foot.

— Francesco (@FRANCESCalciO) October 4, 2014"

The Japanese international has scored four goals so far this campaign, assisting three times to boot. His goals have come from a variety of positions. A mouth-watering free-kick, a thundering header, a perfectly placed shot from just outside the box and a clever first-time dink against Lazio. 

If Honda can continue these performances, he'd go from being an afterthought to a clever steal in the transfer market, especially if he can reach a double-digit goal tally.

Inzaghi's adamant belief that Honda was his guy in the starting XI did wonders to his psyche. 

With all this said, Honda can still get plenty better, especially in open play. The Japan international often plays with his back to goal on the right wing even from the center of the pitch.

This slows down play dramatically, not letting Milan break out on a lightning-quick counter-attack.

If he can get a bit sharper in open play, especially in the build up to the attack, Milan will really take flight. Keep in mind that most of the lineup is different from last season, so the offensive trident don't have much chemistry playing together. 

Adapting to a new country is never easy, but now that Honda has started learning the language and how to play in Serie A, Milan are finally getting the player they wanted.