Both midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu and defender Milan Skriniar are major doubts for Tuesday evening’s Champions League quarterfinal first leg match against Benfica.
This according to today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews, who report that the pair are both still some way away from a recovery from their respective injuries as the team’s trip to Lisbon gets closer and closer.
In the case of Calhanoglu, the 29-year-old Turkish international is working to try and get over a thigh strain that he picked up in a EURO 2024 qualifying match against Croat during the international break.
It’s been reported that the match against Benfica at the Estadio da Luz is the former AC Milan and Bayer Leverkusen man’s target for when he can return to action, but it is far from certain that he’ll get back to training and become fit in time for a match which is now only a few days away.
According to the Gazzetta, it could be more probable to think about Calhanoglu getting back in time for next weekend’s Serie A match against Monza rather than the more optimistic notion of a return against Benfica on Tuesday.
Inter coach Simone Inzaghi will want to get the Turk back as soon as possible for the run-in of the season, whether that is against Benfica next week or soon after, as he is a key player in midfield having already made 37 appearances this season for the Nerazzurri.
Meanwhile, Skriniar continues to recover from a back injury that has kept him out of several matches and also sidelined him during the international break.
The 28-year-old is still dealing with pain, and the nature of his injury means that a precise timeline for a return would be difficult to pinpoint.
What seems clear at this juncture, according to the Gazzetta, is that a return is not on the immediate horizon and so Skriniar must be considered a major doubt for the first leg against Benfica.
