Inter could still be waiting a while for wingback Robin Gosens to be back at his very best after another injury setback has interrupted his progress.

This according to today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, who suggest that the most recent muscle injury suffered by the German casts doubt on his ability to immediately fill the void left by Ivan Perisic on the left.

Gosens was signed from Atalanta during the January transfer window as the long-term replacement for Perisic, and with the 33-year-old having departed on a free transfer for Tottenham Hotspur this summer the succession plan will immediately be put to the test next season.

When Gosens arrived, he was still recovering from a long-term injury, something which was not considered a problem as his signing was one for the future and Perisic was still in the team and in the form of his life.

The German had nevertheless been expected to take steps into his role over the final weeks of the campaign, and while he showed flashes of his undoubted quality from the bench he did not manage to start once ahead of the outstanding Perisic.

The Croat’s departure at the start of the summer transfer window came as a blow, and yet the expectation has been that if Gosens can recover his form from Atalanta Perisic will not be missed too much.

The 28-year-old has been working hard even during his time off, completing a triathlon and participating in and winning a German game show as he’s looked to reach peak physical condition for next season so that there is immediate continuity in his position.

However, the German’s latest muscular injury, while minor, should rule him out of the next one or two friendlies and deprive him of key opportunities to gel with the team in preseason, raising doubts as to how immediate his impact will be at the start of next season.