Inter defender Stefan de Vrij is expected to miss the next ten days or so recovering from his muscle strain, meaning that he will be unable to play in the first two matches back from the international break.

This according to today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, who report that the Dutchman has not suffered a serious injury but that he will still be out long enough to miss the matches against Napoli in Serie A and Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League.

De Vrij pulled up with an injury late in the Netherlands’ World Cup qualifier against Montenegro on Staurday.

The problem has been assessed in the Netherlands, and the initial tests uncovered a strain which will rule him out for an estimated ten days.

Further tests could take place in Italy with a view towards expediting the 29-year-old’s recovery, but now the likeliest return date for him will be the match against Venezia on the 29th.