Roma could have Manu Koné and Paulo Dybala back in the squad for Saturday’s match against Sassuolo, offering Gian Piero Gasperini some encouragement after the Champions League defeat at Manchester United.
According to Il Tempo, Koné is making good progress towards a return, while Dybala is also working on the pitch and hoping to earn a recall.
Neither player’s availability is confirmed, but both are aiming for the final game before the international break.
Koné closing in on a return
Koné has been sidelined since the Champions League meeting with Real Madrid, when he suffered a muscle injury to his right thigh.
The Frenchman is now moving closer to being available again, with Sassuolo the target. His return would give Gasperini another option in a midfield that has carried a heavy workload during his absence.
A place in the squad would be the first step. The report does not indicate whether Koné would be ready to start or how many minutes he could play.
Dybala back working on the pitch
Dybala is also pushing to be involved after resuming work on the field.
The Argentine has had to wait longer than hoped for his comeback, with Roma taking a cautious approach to his recovery. He now has another opportunity to prove his readiness before Gasperini names the squad for Saturday.
The coach had previously expressed doubts about recovering his injured players before the break. Il Tempo’s update offers a more encouraging picture, although the coming training sessions will determine whether either player can return.
Roma host Sassuolo at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday at 20:45 Italian time, looking to respond to the disappointment at Old Trafford. Having Koné and Dybala available again would give Gasperini more choices for that response.
Source: Il Tempo.
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