AC Milan striker Mario Balotelli has suffered a setback in his fight to regain fitness with reports claiming he may require surgery to repair a troublesome groin injury.

Balotelli, who has made only four appearances since re-joining Milan on loan from Liverpool earlier this season, has been sidelined for over a month with the problem and travelled to Denmark on Monday for a consultation with a leading specialist, Professor Per Holmich.

AC Milan said in a statement late on Monday: "The medical staff of AC Milan and Liverpool FC will soon agree on which treatment the player will undergo."

Reports on Tuesday said the former Inter Milan and Manchester City striker now risks undergoing surgery which would rule him out of Milan's plans at least until the New Year.

Milan sit sixth in Italy's top flight, seven points behind leaders Fiorentina.

(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)