There is a 99% chance that Inter striker Romelu Lukaku will miss out on the Milan derby against AC Milan through injury.

This according to today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, who report that the Belgian will undergo assessments over the next day or two to conclusively determine his recovery timeline but that a return to face the Rossoneri looks very unlikely.

At the very least, Lukaku will not be available to face Cremonese tomorrow in Serie A after picking up a thigh strain, but now it will remain to be seen how many more matches the 29-year-old will be out.

The feeling is that even if nothing serious is found in the scans, given Lukaku’s size playing him in a full-intensity match so soon after picking up a muscle strain could seriously risk reinjury.

Nerazzurri coach Simone Inzaghi is hoping that Lukaku will be able to return some time before the first break of the season starting September 25, but a return as early as the Milan derby could be out of reach.