Midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu and defender Francesco Acerbi face a “race against time” to be fit for Inter Milan’s Serie A match against Venezia.
This according to today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews.
Inter were without a couple of key players for yesterday’s Serie A match against Empoli.
Calhanoglu and Acerbi were both missing. Both are currently out with thigh problems that they sustained during Inter’s Serie A match against Roma earlier this month.
That did not prevent the Nerazzurri from taking three points. They beat the Tuscan club 3-0 to get back to winning ways in Serie A after a dramatic 4-4 draw against Juventus.
In midfield, Nicolo Barella played in Calhanoglu’s usual holding role. Davide Frattesi and Henrikh Mkhitaryan lined up alongside the 27-year-old.
And at the heart of Inter’s defense, Stefan de Vrij played at the heart of the back three as he has done since Acerbi suffered his injury.
Hakan Calhanoglu & Francesco Acerbi “Race Against Time” To Be Fit For Inter Vs Venezia
Naturally, Inter coach Simone Inzaghi will want to get both Calhanoglu and Acerbi back as soon as possible.
The Nerazzurri have four more matches to face before the November international break.
There is this Sunday’s Serie A match against Venezia.
And then there are two absolutely huge matches to go before the break. Inter host Arsenal in the Champions League, and then face league leaders Napoli in Serie A.
Inzaghi will certainly hope to have Calhanoglu and Acerbi back for those latter two matches.
And beyond that, the Nerazzurri coach is trying to rotate his squad as much as he possibly can.
Inter are now right in the thick of a daunting fixture list that sees them play two to three matches per week.
Therefore, having important players like Calhanoglu and Acerbi available will be paramount.
But at the same time, Inzaghi won’t want to rush anyone back.
The next match for Inter is just three days away. And that is not a massive amount of time in which to recover for Calhanoglu or Acerbi.
Therefore, there remains a lot of doubt about whether either or both will be fit against Venezia.
A more realistic target could be next Wednesday’s Champions League outing against Arsenal.
