AC Milan Should Be Starting, Not Sidelining, Chelsea's Marco Van Ginkel

AC Milan continue to struggle to recreate themselves as a top Serie A side over in Italy, with new boss Pippo Inzaghi finding himself with as many new problems this term as former bosses Clarence Seedorf and Mass Allegri did last year.

Team shape, style and personnel are all issues which Inzaghi is trying to alter piece by piece, but one of his summer signings, Marco van Ginkel, has so far been completely marginalised, and his agent has, rather heavily handed, tried to do something about it.

FOX Sports reported (h/t Daily Star) Karel Jansen talking about a potential return to Chelsea for the on-loan midfielder if the situation doesn't change.

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Van Ginkel's agent Karl Jansen says that his client didn't come to Italy to not play and that they are growing tired of situation.

— Matteo Bonetti (@TheCalcioGuy) November 5, 2014"

Rather than lose a talented youngster whose services Milan have secured for a year, Inzaghi should be looking to utilise a player with plenty to prove as he bids to return Milan to somewhere near the top of the Italian football tree.

Milan Midfield

While Nigel de Jong is an almost undisputed starter at the heart of the Milan centre of the park, and rightly so for his consistency and defensive capabilities, there is at least one other spot up for grabs and possibly two.

Marco Luzzani/Getty Images

Twenty-two-year-old Riccardo Saponara featured in his first game of the season against Palermo at the weekend, impressing in spells but without really dominating proceedings. It has been a familiar tale for the youngster, who clearly has ability but perhaps not the presence to run a game alone as yet.

Enrico Locci/Getty Images

Ghanaian pair Michael Essien and Sulley Muntari have experience and power, but neither is anywhere near the top of their game now. Essien is nothing like his dominant self of old at Chelsea and Lyon, while Muntari is a poor passer of the ball, not contributing anything more often than not to Milan's attempts to build attacks steadily, dominate play and be the driving force in matches.

That leaves Andrea Poli as the main choice in the centre; the Italian international is certainly a capable player and can offer a good threat running from deep into the final third—but no goals and no assists this season don't exactly scream of a player in the form of his life, an immovable object in the path to first-team football for competitors.

Van Ginkel

And so to Van Ginkel: Just 33 minutes of league action to date is his total, the lowest in the entire squad other than young forward M'Baye Niang and loan left-back Pablo Armero.

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Van Ginkel's agent: "Marco's goal is to play as much as possible with Milan. He will work hard to earn his spot and convince Inzaghi."

— Milan Fans ★ (@MilanEye) November 5, 2014"

The Chelsea man wouldn't have had too many complaints about being initially used as a substitute this term—especially with Milan starting the campaign with a few positive results, but just two wins in the last eight hints at improvements certainly being available to Inzaghi to make.

A player who is comfortable in and out of possession, distributing the ball well or closing down opponents in the centre of the park, Van Ginkel would potentially make a neatly dovetailing partner for De Jong, both capable of winning and passing on the ball to a third midfielder, a more advanced, creative outlet charged with forging scoring opportunities.

A Jeremy Menez, for example.

Even if Inzaghi wanted to maintain a true three in the centre rather than a playmaker ahead of a double pivot, Van Ginkel could be expected to put in stronger performances than Muntari has managed this season and contribute to play moving forward alongside Poli.

Return

Dutchman Van Ginkel enjoyed a whole campaign of first-team action with Vitesse in 2012-13, which sealed him his move to Chelsea. Injury ruined any real chance of his having a big impact last term with his new club, though, with just four first-team appearances to his name all told.

Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images

A comeback from a cruciate ligament injury can be arduous, and Chelsea have such a squad that he was never going to walk back into the first-team scene—especially with the arrival of Cesc Fabregas.

Game time was needed—and game time he should be getting at Milan.

This is a 21-year-old Dutch international, a player whom many European sides would have taken for this season and utilised, knowing that he harbours ambitions of making it with his parent side and thus would want to make a good impression. In training, in games and with off-field behaviour, Van Ginkel's career with Chelsea could depend in large part on his efforts with Milan this year.

It would be understandable if he wasn't playing because someone else was markedly better in his place, or because the manager didn't want to alter a winning team, but neither of those things is true with Milan this term. They have at their disposal a most capable young player, but they are wasting their resources by leaving him sidelined at the expense of more experienced, yet poorly performing, team-mates.

Continue it and not only will they persist with those who are clearly past their best, but agent Jansen's words about Chelsea recalling him could turn out to be proven true. If that should happen, expect other teams to be happy to roll out the red carpet for Van Ginkel in January—and for Milan's negligence to be exposed once he takes to the pitch regularly elsewhere.

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