Defender Alessandro Bastoni will start on the bench in tomorrow evening’s Serie A match between Inter Milan and Udinese.
This according to Italian broadcaster Sky Sport Italia, via FCInterNews.
24-year-old Italian international Bastoni is finally back in training after around three weeks out of action.
Bastoni made a full return to training with the rest of the squad yesterday.
The former Parma and Atalanta defender had been out with a calf injury. He picked up the problem during the November international break with Italy.
But now back to fitness and with a couple days of training under his belt leading up to tomorrow evening’s Serie A match against Udinese, there is little doubt that Bastoni will be called up to the squad for that match.
The Italian had missed Inter’s previous three matches. He was out for Serie A away trips to face Juventus and Napoli, and for a Champions League group stage match against Benfica.
Bastoni’s return will certainly be a welcome sigh for Nerazzurri coach Simone Inzaghi.
However, the 24-year-old will not start tomorrow evening.
Alessandro Bastoni To Start On The Bench In Inter Vs Udinese Clash
As Sky notes, Inzaghi will have to carefully consider how he uses his defenders over the next few matches.
The coach will have limited resources at his disposal for at least a little while longer in defense.
This is because of an injury crisis that has emerged.
Benjamin Pavard is still out. Meanwhile, so is Stefan de Vrij, who picked up a muscle strain in last Sunday’s win over Napoli.
And the fact that Denzel Dumfries also picked up a muscle problem in that match means that Matteo Darmian could have to cover on the right flank in addition to the back three.
For that reason, Inzaghi will have to think about how he uses his defenders carefully.
The team can ill afford another injury, and there aren’t the same opportunities to rotate as usual.
As part of this strategy, Sky reports, Inzaghi will leave Bastoni out of the starting eleven tomorrow.
Rather, the broadcaster anticipates, the 24-year-old could start against Real Sociedad in the Champions League and then Lazio in the league.
