Mario Balotelli undergoes successful groin surgery

Mario Balotelli has undergone successful surgery to resolve a groin problem and will be sidelined for four weeks, AC Milan announced on Wednesday.

A recurring groin injury has limited the Italy striker to just four appearances since returning to Milan this summer on a season-long loan from Liverpool.

The 25-year-old has not featured since a 1-0 defeat to Genoa on September 27th.

A Milan statement read: “AC Milan announces that Mario Balotelli underwent surgery in Munich.

“The operation was technically successful and the recovery time is around four weeks, assuming there are no complications.”

The former Manchester City striker will return to action in the new year.

Balotelli scored 26 goals in 43 appearances for Milan in his first spell at the club before leaving in the summer of 2014 in a £16m transfer to Liverpool.

Milan are sixth in the Serie A standings as they look to bounce back from two disappointing seasons which saw them fail to qualify for Europe. The Rossoneri are seven points adrift of league leaders Fiorentina and rivals Inter Milan after six wins in 12 games.