ROME, Nov 6 - AC Milan and Italy midfielder Gennaro Gattuso is expected to be out of action for three to four weeks after injuring his left knee, the Serie A club said on Monday.

Gattuso, who picked up the injury during the 2-0 defeat at Atalanta at the weekend, will miss Serie A matches against AS Roma, Empoli and Messina, as well as the away fixture against Champions League rivals AEK Athens.

He will also sit out the Azzurri's international friendly at home to Turkey on November 15.

The loss of their hard-working midfielder is a setback to Milan as they bid to relaunch their faltering Serie A campaign.

Sunday's defeat at Atalanta left them 16th in the 20-team division, 17 points behind joint leaders Inter Milan and Palermo.