Cassano's return 'too late' for Milan

Antonio Cassano has been praised by Milan's doctor for working tirelessly to get fit after heart problems but his return looks to have come too late to save their dwindling Scudetto hopes.

A 26th-minute goal in the forward's first start for six months helped the champions to a 4-1 win at Siena on Sunday and they stayed three points adrift of Juventus as the leaders walloped Novara 4-0.

Three games remain and second-placed Milan host mid-table Atalanta on Wednesday desperate for Juve, chasing their first Serie A title since a 2006 match-fixing demotion, to slip up at home to third from bottom Lecce.

Cassano, now likely to feature for Italy at Euro 2012 having proved his fitness, will be eager for another start in midweek and the medical staff say he is ready.

"He really has been very strong. He has not given up for one moment, he has come to the Milanello training ground and done exactly what he had to do. I didn't expect a goal immediately," club doctor Rodolfo Tavana told reporters.

"We wanted to make sure he could return to the pitch healthy and with no risks."

With the top two expected to win on Wednesday, focus will quickly turn to Sunday's derby between Milan and resurgent Inter who have rocketed up the league under new coach Andrea Stramaccioni and lie joint third with three teams.

Third place guarantees a Champions League qualifying place with fourth only worth a Europa League berth after Italy lost one of its slots to Germany.

Napoli, Udinese and Lazio are the other teams level on 55 points with Inter, 22 points behind Juve.

Italy uses head-to-head records rather than goal difference to determine positions at the end of the season and the scenario has added complications with Lazio hosting Inter on the last day of the campaign on May 13.

Before then Inter travel to improving Parma on Wednesday when Lazio welcome Siena and Udinese go to relegated Cesena. Napoli entertain Palermo on Tuesday.