Diego Godin stepped up his recovery from a thigh injury today as the defender took part in a practice match during training.

Antonio Conte’s side are preparing to play Cagliari in their second match of the new Serie A season, having beaten Lecce 4-0 on Monday night.

Godin was the only first-team player unavailable for the game, but it seems he is very close to retrieving full fitness after three weeks on the sidelines.

Inter’s photo gallery from today’s action at Appiano Gentile suggested the centre-back will be in contention for Sunday’s fixture at the Sardegna Arena.

Godin joined Inter on a free transfer from Atletico Madrid but only made one brief appearance during preseason, against Paris Saint-Germain in Macao.

Conte could only use one third of his all-star back three against Lecce earlier this week, with Stefan de Vrij succumbing to a small problem in the warm-up at San Siro.