Both Federico Dimarco and Arturo Vidal will be in contention to start for Inter in tomorrow’s derby against AC Milan, and could take the places of Ivan Perisic and Hakan Calhanoglu in the side respectively.
This according to today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, who report that the pair have each forced their way into the thinking of coach Simone Inzaghi with their performances this season.
Dimarco has a tough task in dislodging either Ivan Perisic at left-wing-back or Alessandro Bastoni on the left side of the defense from the starting lineup.
However, the 23-year-old has quickly grown into the team since his summer loan return, with the Gazzetta describing him as the Nerazzurri’s “12th man” in their squad.
Dimarco’s displays this season have impressed and at times been vital to his team’s endeavours on the pitch, and Inzaghi could see him as too important to leave out of the team on this form.
Meanwhile, Hakan Calhanoglu is considered to be the favourite to start in midfield alongside Nicolo Barella and Marcelo Brozovic, but there is no guarantee that he will find himself in the team.
One of Dimarco or Calhanoglu are likely to start given the pair’s status as the most effective set piece takers in the team, although Brozovic can also produce good deliveries from these situations.
Calhanoglu could have an opportunity to show against his former side the Rossoneri that his early form for Inter was not a mirage, as he has not always shown his best on a consistent basis despite an eye-catching debut against Genoa.
However, Arturo Vidal could also be selected ahead of him, with the Chilean having produced another impressive display when called upon against Sheriff Tiraspol on Wednesday.
Vidal had been considered fairly likely to leave the club in the summer, and yet now he is a regular in Simone Inzaghi’s thinking on the strength of his performances, and could be handed a start in the vital head-to-head with Milan tomorrow.
