Inter defender Alessandro Bastoni feels that the Nerazzurri squad are heading into January with a large number of important matches ahead of them.

Speaking to InterTV after the team’s 2-0 friendly win over Reggina, the 23-year-old also noted that having striker Romelu Lukaku back from injury will give the team a lot in attack during the period.

Inter have been away from club football for well over a month during the World Cup break.

Now that the tournament is over, however, there are only a couple weeks left before the Nerazzurri make their long-awaited return to action.

Once the long period without matches, starting with a Serie A match against league leaders Napoli on January 4, the fixtures will come thick and fast, and Bastoni knows that the team must be prepared and motivated for them.

The defender said of the match against Reggina that “Both this and the match against Betis allowed us to start raising the tempo and getting important playing time in our legs.”

Of the return of Lukaku, Bastoni said that “Romelu also has to get back in top form, and with the work we’re doing he’ll certainly give us a big hand.”

“We really want to get back to action,” he added, “the match against Napoli will be very important for us, and then we have the Supercoppa and the Champions League round of sixteen.”

“From now until the end of the season, we have a very packed fixture list ahead of us, and it’s important that we increase our tempo and intensity.”