Brazilian wonderkid Pato looks almost certain to make his long-awaited Serie A debut when AC Milan entertain Napoli on 13 January, following comments made by coach Carlo Ancelotti on Thursday.

Speaking from a press conference in Dubai, where Milan are on a mid-season training camp, Ancelotti said he would have no qualms about throwing the prodigious striker into the fray in the European and world champions' very next match.

Ancelotti was quoted on the offical Milan website as saying: "Pato's arrival in January will help us in the league and he shouldn't have any problems in playing against Napoli, I believe the bureaucratic issues will be resolved in time."

Pato was bought in August from Brazilian club Internacional but his debut has been delayed due to work permit restrictions on non-EU nationals.

Non-EU players must be 18 before they can sign a contract in Italy and Pato's crucial birthday came after the closure of the August transfer window, meaning he has had to wait patiently on the sidelines until January to make his debut.

Although Milan won the FIFA Club World Cup in December and topped their UEFA Champions League group, they have struggled in the league and currently sit 25 points off leaders and city rivals Inter Milan.

One problem area has been in attack where the injury-prone Brazilian Ronaldo has played only two games and veteran forward Filippo Inzaghi has been sharing the workload with Alberto Gilardo, so Pato's availability will give the club a great boost.

"In terms of quality he will certainly give us something extra and we have no fears about heaping too much responsibility on his shoulders," added Ancelotti.

The coach also dismissed speculation that Ronaldo might be on his way out after he was photographed in Rio de Janeiro over Christmas wearing a Flamengo shirt.

"As far as I know he hasn't expressed any desire to leave Milan. The question about a possible transfer to Flamengo is purely about the fact he was born in Brazil and has nothing to do with his wishes," said Ancelotti.

"Ronie is an integral part of the squad and is someone in whom he have confidence and we hope he will start to train with a ball again in the next few days."

Ancelotti also gave his backing to under-fire Brazilian goalkeeper Nelson Dida, who's error cost Milan a share of the spoils in the Milan derby before the winter break.

Some in the Italian media believe Dida will be replaced in the starting line-up by Australian goalkeeper Zeljko Kalac.

"I have no problem in saying that Nelson will be the starting goalkeeper against Napoli," Ancelotti added defiantly.