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Fonseca sweating defensive options ahead of Sassuolo match

RomaPress Staff
I

Following a knee injury to Marash Kumbulla, Roma find themselves in an emergency situation in defence ahead of Saturday’s league match against Sassuolo.

Manager Paulo Fonseca welcomed his team back to training today after the international break, but he finds himself shorthanded at the back. In fact, Brazilian Roger Ibañez is the only first choice central defender currently available for this weekend’s affair against Roberto De Zerbi’s men.

Il Tempo reports that Chris Smalling has technically recovered, however, Roma do not want to rush him back to ensure he’s available for the Europa League versus Ajax. Meanwhile, Gianluca Mancini is suspended against Sassuolo due to yellow card accumulation. Fellow Italian Bryan Cristante is also a question mark after he left the national team’s retreat last week due to inflammation in his pelvis.

As for Kumbulla, he will undergo scans at Villa Stuart today on his inflamed knee to receive a definitive diagnosis. There are fears that his meniscus may be torn and that the remainder of his season is at risk.

There was good news for Roma, though, as midfielder Jordan Veretout returned to the fold. The midfielder suffered a groin injury earlier this month against Fiorentina and missed nearly four weeks of action.

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