AC Milan's Balotelli makes 1st appearance in 4 months in game vs. Fiorentina

AC Milan forward Mario Balotelli made his much-awaited return to action on Sunday, emerging as a late substitute against Fiorentina after being sidelined since September as he recovered from a nagging groin injury.

Balotelli scored in his first start of the season on Sept. 22 - a 3-2 win over Udinese. He only appeared one more time before succumbing to the groin issue.

The club decided to defer surgery in the initial stages of his rehabilitation process. More conservative methods, however, proved fruitless, and Balotelli ended up going under the knife upon further consideration.

Balotelli is currently on a season-long loan from Liverpool, and could yet venture back to Anfield at the end of the campaign.