AC Milan midfielder Andrea Bertolacci was sidelined with a thigh injury on Thursday although there was good news for the Rossoneri after striker Mario Balotelli signalled his imminent return to action.

Resurgent Milan welcome Sampdoria to the San Siro on Saturday in what should be a special game for coach Sinisa Mihajlovic, whose two-year spell with the Genoa club ended in the summer.

However, Mihajlovic is set to do without the influential Bertolacci after he suffered a recurrence of a previous injury to his left thigh.

Milan said in a statement "the midfielder will soon undergo exams" to determine the extent of the damage, although he is expected to be ruled out on Saturday.

Balotelli, meanwhile, indicated that his two-month injury nightmare could soon be over after posting a picture of himself smiling on Instagram with a positive message for his fans

"Finally, waking up is good.. Second day of training.. I am coming back," said Balotelli, who underwent surgery last week on a troublesome groin injury that had sidelined him since the end of September.

Balotelli, who is on loan from Liverpool this season, was believed to require several months before returning to competition but his early return could boost his bid to contend for a place in Italy's Euro 2016 squad.

Balotelli has not played for Italy since the ill-fated World Cup campaign in Brazil last summer which culminated in their first-round exit, having been ignored so far by Antonio Conte.

Milan suffered their first defeat in seven games away to Juventus last week and sit in seventh place, 10 points behind leaders and city rivals Inter Milan.

Inter travel to second-placed Napoli, who are two points adrift, on Monday.