Inter Milan striker Marko Arnautovic is likely to be back from injury in next week’s Champions League group stage clash with Red Bull Salzburg.
This according to today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews. The newspaper report that Arnautovic definitely won’t be back to face Atalanta, but is close.
Arnautovic is still out with the thigh strain that he picked up in September.
The Austrian picked up the injury during Inter’s Serie A win away to Empoli.
However, in the last couple of weeks, Arnautovic has gotten closer and closer to being able to make a return.
The 34-year-old former West Ham United and Stoke City striker is close to a return to full training.
Then it will just be a matter of Arnautovic building up fitness.
Inter Striker Marko Arnautovic Likely To Return For Salzburg Clash
According to the Gazzetta, a return against Atalanta on Saturday would be out of the question for Arnautovic.
The Austrian still has a few more days left before he can really reach something like match fitness.
Therefore, there’s no chance of Inter coach Simone Inzaghi risking Arnautovic. He will hardly want a player who still needs match-conditioning, let alone to reaggravate the injury.
But Inter do have two more matches between Saturday’s trip to Bergamo and the international break.
The Nerazzurri travel to Austria to face Red Bull Salzburg on Wednesday.
Then on the weekend after next, the Nerazzurri hos Frosinone in the league.
According to the Gazzetta, the target for Arnautovic would be availability for the trip to his home country of Austria.
It is doubtful that Arnautovic will play a major role against either Salzburg or Frosinone.
However, the real target could be to get the Austrian back to his best for Juventus after the international break.
