Inter have had an unquestionably difficult schedule the past 6 weeks. With multiple matches against Juventus, a top of the table clash with AC Milan, a Lazio team fighting for top 4, a Genoa team that hadn’t lost in 8 matches, and an Atalanta team, that period of the schedule was the ultimate test for the club. Were they contenders or pretenders?

Ultimately Antonio Conte guided the club to resounding success with the team only suffering heartbreak in the Coppa Italia through that stretch.

Now Inter sit top of the table 6 points clear of their next rivals. But while the remainder of the schedule may not be loaded with difficult matches one after the other, now is the time for this team to put their foot down and ensure their place as Scudetto winners. And to do that, every player possible needs to be healthy and ready to contribute

Upcoming Matches:

Torino FC vs Inter, Sunday March 14th, Olympic Grande Torino Stadium, kickoff 15:00 CET

First Team Fitness:

Arturo Vidal: The club announced the Chilean midfielder is going to undergo a procedure on his left knee to address pain associated with his meniscus.

The club didn’t provide a timeline for his return but Sky Sports Italia suggests he will be out for 2 to 4 weeks. This suggests he’ll be receiving an arthroscopic meniscectomy, removal of part (or all) of the meniscus.

While this surgery does have a quicker turn around, this does have long term implications for Vidal who could be at risk for quicker knee joint degeneration and arthritis development as he ages.

Based on the timeline for recover, Vidal likely won’t feature until after the international break and, due to time needed to train and get back into form, potentially will miss the first few weeks of matches after the break as well.

Aleksander Kolarov: The Serbian defender was noted to have a fatigued thigh, specifically with his adductor muscle.

He has been training separately from the remainder of the team and looks very unlikely to play against Torino, though given his poor form for the club this season and general lack of play time, it was unlikely he would have featured anyhow.

Christian Eriksen: In yesterday’s print edition of Gazzetta dello Sport, Eriksen complained of pain and inflammation in his knee during the week and after training separately from the rest of the squad, is likely to only be fit for a place on the bench.

It remains to be seen how serious the inflammation is but usually if not serious an inflammation goes away after a few days.