Inter coach Simone Inzaghi has revealed that there is still a real chance that Hakan Calhanoglu could start in midfield in this evening’s Champions League quarterfinal second leg match against Benfica.

Speaking to Italian broadcaster Amazon Prime ahead of the match, via FCInterNews, the coach issued an update on his selection decisions for the match, including that either of Romelu Lukaku or Edin Dzeko could start in attack.

Calhanoglu is now fully fit and available, having made a fairly speedy recovery from the thigh strain that he picked up during the international break to make a substitute appearance against Monza in Serie A over the weekend.

The 29-year-old former AC Milan man was not available for the first leg of the tie against Benfica last Tuesday, but according to Inzaghi he could well be in the starting eleven this time around.

Calhanoglu has become a pivotal player in midfield in every sense for Inter this season, making 38 appearances in all competitions so far.

Asked if there’s a chance of the Turkish international starting this evening, Inzaghi replied “Very much so, as with the forwards.”

“I have some ideas, but it will be after the final training session that I make up my mind,” the coach added.

“And then anyone who comes on from the bench will also have to give us a big hand, as was the case in Lisbon.”

“I’m evaluating between Lukaku and Dzeko,” Inzaghi said, “they’re being rotated as with Lautaro and Correa.”

“The key words tonight will be ‘togetherness’ and ‘intensity,'” the coach said. “Benfica will cause problems for us but we will try to approach the match in the best way possible.”

And of the criticism and rumours about his future, Inzaghi said that “It’s part of our job that when the results don’t come we received criticism.”

“I insulate myself from it along with my staff to work better and find solutions,” he added.

Inzaghi noted that “Almost all teams have had problems caused by playing so often.”

“But we’re Inter,” the coach continued, “we have to compete in all competitions, and despite the amount of effort we’ve already had to put in we want to give ourselves more by moving on this evening.”