Inter head coach Simone Inzaghi believes that striker Romelu Lukaku is dealing with a more challenging injury than he’s ever experienced in his career.
Speaking to Italian broadcaster Sky Sport Italia after the team’s 2-0 Serie A victory over Salernitana, the coach updated on the Belgian’s fitness as he recovers from a thigh strain.
Lukaku has been out since the end of August with a thigh problem which has meant that he has now missed eleven matches between Serie A and the Champions League.
The 29-year-old has looked close to a return for some time as he is all but recovered, but the ultimate return to the pitch has been delayed.
The feeling among everyone has been that Lukaku should not risk coming back until he has completely put the thigh problem behind him, so as to not risk reinjury.
“He’s working every day,” Inzaghi said of the striker.
“Today he was not quite in the right condition to be part of the squad, we’ll see how he is in the next few days.”
The coach noted that “He’s suffered an injury that he’s never had in his career, but he has great desire and we’re waiting for him to return, as with Gagliardini and Brozovic.”
Of the speculation that had popped up around his future before the team’s recent response on the pitch, Inzaghi said that “We as coaches are always under discussion, it also happened with me in Rome despite the achievements and trophies.”
“Here we looked at the 84 points and the two trophies last season as a defeat,” the coach continued, “but that’s the way it is, in football every Sunday there’s a new judgment, and Inter can’t lose four matches out of eight.”
“Now I see the pitch and I see the guys helping each other out,” he added, “this is the most positive aspect.”
“As for myself, I have always looked for a challenge, and I know full well what I’ve done and what I’m doing.”
Of the midfield reshuffle with Hakan Calhanoglu playing as a regista, Inzaghi said that “I wouldn’t talk about it as a revolution.”
“I had Calhanoglu play in that role last season as well,” he noted.
“In goal, seeing how high Onana’s levels are I’ve had a choice to make every weekend, and then there’s also Handanovic, who was not available this week as he had a dislocated finger.”
“Correa is back in attack and helped the team in the last twenty minutes,” he continued.
“I hope everyone recovers soon and I can make some decisions over the coming matches, since there are so many to come.”