Midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu and defender Alessandro Bastoni are both ready to start for Inter Milan against Genoa on Saturday.
This according to today’s print edition of Rome-based newspaper Corriere dello Sport, via FCInterNews. They also report that Mehdi Taremi and Marko Arnautovic will be fit for the bench in the Serie A opener.
It is now just a matter of days before Inter kick off their new Serie A season.
The Nerazzurri begin their title defense with a trip to Liguria to face Genoa.
And Inter coach Simone Inzaghi is starting to have a clear idea of the team that he will choose for his first starting eleven of the campaign.
Naturally, the Inter coach’s priority is to put out more or less his strongest team available.
But fitness will play a big role in determining which players are available and able to start.
Hakan Calhanoglu & Alessandro Bastoni Ready To Start Vs Genoa – Taremi & Arnautovic Fit For The Bench
Neither midfielder Calhanoglu nor defender Bastoni played during Inter’s final friendly of preseason against Chelsea.
In neither case was there a serious injury.
However, both Calhanoglu and Bastoni had picked up minor muscular knocks.
Therefore, Inzaghi decided not to risk either of the pair in a friendly match. The coach’s priority was to avoid injury in view of Inter’s Serie A opener.
According to the Corriere, both of Calhanoglu and Bastoni have fully recovered from their respective muscle problems.
The Turkish and Italian internationals have been training normally, without any issues.
This is certainly good news for Inzaghi, Both Calhanoglu and Bastoni have been key players in Inter’s starting eleven for several seasons.
And both of the two players should be able to start on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the Gazzetta report, strikers Taremi and Arnautovic have also been in full training.
The Iranian and Austrian internationals have been recovering from muscle injuries that they picked up in preseason.
But both Taremi and Arnautovic will be fit enough to start on the bench against Genoa.
